Former Qatar Westland Commandos taken on charge
On 24 January 2022, the ten Westland Commando helicopters donated by Qatar to Pakistan were officially taken on charge by the Pakistan Bhari'a (PN, Pakistan Navy).
On footage shown on the PN twitter account four are visible, serial 57 Commando 2A model and serials 50, 54 and 56 all three Commando 3 models. The helicopters will be used by 111 ASV / ASW sq based at Pakistan Naval Station Mehran, colocated at Karachi/Sharea Faisal airport.
Scramble Magazine reported on this Qatar Pakistan deal in August 2021. Not all ten are airworthy, some are to be used for spares.
The Westland Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61, built by Westland Helicopters. The helicopter differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines (derived from the US General Electric T58), British-made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised flight control system.
The Sea King was primarily designed for performing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. A Sea King variant was adapted by Westland as troop transport known as the Commando.
Photo by Pakistan Navy