ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy reaffirmed its resolve to defend the country’s territorial waters on Monday after conducting a live firing test of a surface-to-air missile in the northern Arabian Sea, according to a military statement.
The missile test involved the FM-90(N) ER, a medium-range naval air-defense system designed to intercept aerial threats, and comes months after a brief but intense military conflict between Pakistan and India in which the nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged missile and artillery fire and deployed drones and fighter jets.
While the four-day confrontation did not escalate into a naval clash, the Pakistan Navy remained on high alert until a US-brokered ceasefire brought the fighting to an end.
“Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a Live Weapon Firing (LWF) of the FM-90(N) ER Surface-to-Air Missile in the North Arabian Sea,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“During the firepower demonstration, a Pakistan Navy ship effectively engaged highly manoeuvrable aerial targets, reaffirming the Navy’s war-fighting capability and combat readiness,” it added. “Commander Pakistan Fleet witnessed the live firing at sea onboard a Pakistan Navy Fleet unit.”
ISPR said the fleet commander commended officers and sailors involved in the exercise for their professionalism and operational competence, and reiterated the navy’s resolve to safeguard Pakistan’s maritime interests under all circumstances.
Pakistan has placed greater emphasis on battle readiness in recent months.
Last week, Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited frontline garrisons of Gujranwala and Sialkot to observe a field training exercise involving tanks and drones, where he highlighted the importance of technological adaptability, saying modern warfare required agility, precision, situational awareness and rapid decision-making.
