SEA KING
111 ASW/ASV SQUADRON
SEARCH AND STRIKE

Seaking helicopters constitute the
111 ASW/ASV squadron of the naval air arm. The squadron was established in
1975 with the induction of Seaking MK 42 helicopters from UK. These
helicopters are based at Naval Air Station, PNS Mehran at Karachi, but
they are capable to operate from various secondary bases located along the
coast. Additionally these helicopters regularly operate from surface units
of the fleet.
The squadron motto of ‘Search and
Strike’ exactly depicts the nature of operations of this squadron. These
helicopters have requisite sensors and weapons suite onboard with which it
can Search, Locate, Track and kill the surface or sub-surface targets. In
ASV role the helicopter carries Air to Surface Missiles to destroy hostile
surface combatants, whereas in ASW the Seaking is capable to carry
Torpedoes to neutralize enemy subsurface units. The torpedoes can also be
replaced by a depth charge to destroy enemy subsurface units in shallow
waters or at snorkel.
The squadron also forms backbone of
Search and Rescue organization. The squadron has operated in all type of
terrain extending from valleys and mountains of Azad Kashmir during the
recent earth quake relief operations to the shores of Tsunami hit
countries of South East Asia. These helicopters are ever ready to save
precious human life as integral part of SAR organization for both military
and civil purposes.