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Pakistan army staff corps for army aviation. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pakistan Army Corps of Aviation is a military administrative and combined arms service branch of the Pakistan Army.[1]
Pakistan Army Aviation Corps | |
---|---|
![]() Badge of the Corps of Aviation | |
Founded | 1958 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Combined and Combat support service |
Role | Administrative and staffing oversight. |
HQ/Garrison | Army GHQ in Rawalpindi, Punjab in Pakistan. |
Nickname(s) | AVN |
Colors identification | Purple, White, Yellow |
Anniversaries | 1958 |
Engagements | Military history of Pakistan |
Commanders | |
Director-General | Maj-Gen. Dr. Najeeb Ahmad |
Notable commanders | Brigadier Zakaullah Bhangoo |
Insignia | |
War Flag | ![]() |
Patch | |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack helicopter | AH-1 Cobra Mi-35M Hind-E Z-10ME Bell AH-1Z Viper |
Multirole helicopter | AW139 Bell 412 Eurocopter Fennec |
Trainer helicopter | 206 JetRanger Enstrom 280FX Schweizer 300C |
Utility helicopter | Mi-17/171 SA 330 Puma Alouette III Eurocopter Écureuil SA 315B Lama UH-1 Huey |
Reconnaissance | Super King Air 350i |
Transport | Super King Air 350 Y-12 Turbo Commander 690C 206 Stationair 208 Caravan Citation V Citation Bravo G450 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2017) |
The Aviation Corps is tasked with configuration of all army aviation aircraft and provides principle close aerial combat support and aerial logistics for the Pakistan Army.[1]
Originally formed by the British Army Air Corps in 1942, the partition in 1947 of the former British Indian Army allowed the entire unit of the British Army's Air Corps to be transferred to the Pakistan Army.[1] Initially, the Aviation Corps was part of the Pakistan Air Force but was commissioned in the Pakistan Army after its personnel were trained and certified in the United States in 1958.: 32 [2][3] The Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering started to maintain the aircraft and helicopters given by the U.S. Army's Aviation Branch, opening its own aviation school in 1959.[4]
Since the 1960s, the corps expanded in momentum, manpower, and its operational scope has widened.[4] The Aviation Corps became a combat support branch when it inducted its first attack helicopters from Iran in 1970.[4] The Aviation Corps is commanded by an active-duty two star major-general, who serves as its director-general and functions directly under the Chief of the General Staff at the Army GHQ in Rawalpindi, Punjab.[5]
The Pakistan Army operates 314+ helicopters alongside several fixed-wing aircraft.
3 CAIC Z-10 attack helicopters of China were delivered for trial use so that orders could be made in the future. However, as of 2018, no orders have been made further and replaced by TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK, this could mean that these 3 helicopters were returned with no follow-up order.[citation needed]
15 Bell AH-1Z Viper with Hellfire missiles, equipment and support worth $952 million were on order but are on hold due to political tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan.[6]
30 TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK worth $1.5 billion is on order however production is still on hold due to the United States not giving export license for the engine, which is of American origin. New Turkish indigenous engine as a replacement is currently on trials.[7]
After the United States failed to deliver the AH-1Z and the problems with the Turkish T129, the Pakistan Army again is showing interests in Chinese all-weather, multirole CAIC Z-10ME which is the advanced and upgraded variant of the CAIC Z-10.[8]
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