ISPR says live firing and autonomous trials show readiness as Sindh CM hails training as major defense milestone
Pakistan Navy demonstrated its operational readiness and combat readiness through a comprehensive exercise in the North Arabian Sea that showcased both conventional and unmanned capabilities
The Pakistan Navy has conducted a large-scale exercise in the North Arabian Sea, testing surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-air munitions and an unmanned surface vessel, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercises included the successful direct launch of a LY-80(N) surface-to-air missile from an extended-range vertical launch system. The missile successfully engaged and neutralized an air target, validating what the Navy described as the long-range capabilities of its modern air defense systems.
The exercise also featured the use of hovering munitions against surface targets. These weapons, which can hover over an area before impact, successfully destroyed targets and demonstrated the Navy’s precision strike capability in modern naval warfare, ISPR said.
Separately, open sea trials of an unmanned surface vessel were conducted in challenging conditions. The autonomous vessel was tested for maneuverability, precision navigation and performance in bad weather. The trials validated the platform’s ability to combine high-speed performance with mission-critical durability, with the ISPR describing it as a low-risk, high-impact system that offers the “stealth of a tactical interceptor”.
The exercise was witnessed by the Commander-in-Chief Pakistan Navy and involved the use of both conventional and unmanned systems, highlighting the Navy’s ability to operate advanced technologies in line with evolving naval warfare.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf said the exercises demonstrated the Pakistan Navy’s operational readiness and combat readiness. He commended the officers and staff for their professionalism and operational competence and reaffirmed the Navy’s resolve to ensure the maritime defense of Pakistan and protect national maritime interests at all costs.
Read: Pakistan Navy successfully tests indigenous anti-ship ballistic missiles
In its statement, the ISPR said the exercise demonstrated Pakistan Navy’s “operational readiness and combat readiness through a comprehensive exercise in the North Arabian Sea showcasing both conventional and unmanned capabilities, in line with evolving naval warfare”.
The development drew praise from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who described the successful test of the LY-80 missile as an important milestone for national defence.
“I congratulate the Pakistan Navy, scientists and engineers for the successful test of the LY-80 missile,” he said, adding that “Pakistani scientists have lifted the country’s head with pride through the LY-80 air defense missile system”.
He said the Navy’s professional capability and reliance on indigenous technology was commendable and called the LY-80 system a proof of this progress. “Sindh government pays tribute to the scientists and forces serving the national defence,” he said.
The chief minister said the successful missile test sent a clear message to adversaries and marked an important step towards making Pakistan’s defenses “impregnable”. He added that the country’s defense was in “strong hands”, confidence in modern defense technology was a major national achievement and there would be “no compromise on national security”.
The exercise comes as regional navies increasingly incorporate autonomous systems and long-range missiles into their maritime operations, underscoring the growing emphasis on advanced technologies in naval defense.
