In the setbacks which occurred during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war, the Ministry of Defense realized the lack and importance of naval patrol aircraft. Evaluations for a suitable MPA platform were started and the French Bréguet 1150 Atlantic was selected in 1974. In 1976, three MPAs were acquired and operationalized. In line of the 29th year of independence of Pakistan, the unit was named as 29 ASW Squadron. [1]
Breguet 1150 Atlantic of the 29 ASW Squadron taking off from PAF Base Samungli.
The squadron became the first Atlantic operator to modify the type to fire Exocet Anti-ship missiles, it conducted the first live firing on 27th February 1985. The mid-1990s saw the squadron's fleet being refurbished with improved French sensors and sub-systems like ESM, Acoustic Processor, Radar, improved Navigation System etc. [1][2]
Pakistan Navy's new RAS-72 Sea Eagle
Operational history
The squadron remained active throughout the Kargil war performing patrolling missions along the India-Pakistan border. On one such occasion, an Attaltic was patrolling over the disputed Sir Creek when it was intercepted and subsequently shot down by an Indian Mig-21. This incident became what is now known as the Atlantique incident.
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