ISLAMABAD (Khyber Mail) July 28, 2025 — The Pakistan Navy has launched a comprehensive review of potential replacements for its Harbin Z-9EC anti-submarine warfare helicopters after mechanical failures and integration shortfalls forced the service to ground much of the fleet. Naval headquarters confirmed that only a handful of the 20-strong rotorcraft remain airworthy, prompting an urgent search for more reliable airborne ASW platforms.
Acquired in 2009 to bolster submarine-hunting capabilities aboard Zulfiquar-class frigates, the Z-9ECs were equipped with low-frequency dipping sonar, tactical data links and light torpedoes. However, recurring main-blade cracks and tail-rotor malfunctions have led to severe flight restrictions and curtailed mission profiles.
Maintenance crews at Mehran Naval Base report cannibalizing parts from grounded airframes just to sustain limited operations. They cite a chronic shortage of spares and sluggish after-sale support from Chinese manufacturers as key factors undermining serviceability.
Exercises conducted with F-22P frigates revealed further complications: the Z-9ECs failed to relay real-time sonar feeds to shipboard combat systems, introducing critical delays in submarine threat response. Analysts warn this gap exposes Pakistan’s surface fleet to heightened undersea dangers, particularly from India’s modern submarine arm.
In response, the Navy is evaluating a range of Western, Russian and indigenous alternatives. Prime contenders include the U.S.-made Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk, the Italian-built Leonardo AW101 Merlin and Russia’s Kamov Ka-28 Helix. Officials are also studying unmanned solutions such as the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout.
Budgetary considerations and export clearances will shape the final decision. Navy planners intend to explore Foreign Military Sales options, potential Chinese and Russian credit lines, and the cost-effective refurbishment of legacy platforms like the Sea King S-61.
A senior naval officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said preliminary trials and interoperability tests with F-22P and Zulfiquar frigates are slated for later this year. Training programs and simulator procurements are also under discussion to ensure a smooth transition to the new fleet.
By aligning capability, lifecycle support and affordability, the Pakistan Navy aims to restore a credible airborne ASW deterrent in the Arabian Sea’s strategic chokepoints.