Naval Strategic Forces Command (Pakistan)
Naval Strategic Forces Command | |
---|---|
V-Adm. Abdul Samad |
The Pakistan Navy Strategic Forces Command (
Formation was organized in 2004 based on and influenced from the army's formation in 2002, and is responsible only for sea-based strategic nuclear deterrence, which the Pakistan's government identifies it as "custodian of second-strike capability.[1]
Military overview
History
Before 2000, the
As early as 2001, the Pakistani military strategists began to explore the idea of sea-based "
In 2000, the work on establishing the formation was started under the watchful guidance of Adm.
In 2004, the formation was established within the Navy which was based on the army's strategic forces command, and inaugurated its first headquarters in 2012 with Vice-Admiral Tanveer Faiz becoming its first commander.
The military media command, the ISPR described the NSFC as the "custodian of the nation's 2nd strike capability, will strengthen Pakistan's policy of Credible Minimum Deterrence and ensure regional stability."[1]
Employment
Besides the Pakistan Army's strategic formation, the Naval Strategic Forces Command is the only military formation that maintains and controls the employment of the transporter erector launchers, which is a primary ground-based delivery system for coastal defenses only.[10] The Naval Strategic Command is distributed among the Pakistan Navy's missile regiment and the air defense battalions of the Pakistan Marines, focusing on the southern border.[11]
The Navy's strategic formation is largely viewed as second-line capabilities that complement the principal land-based systems operated by the Army Strategic Force Command.[12]
List of Commanders
Officer commanding of the Naval Strategic Forces Command | Start of assignment | End of assignment |
---|---|---|
Vice-Admiral Tanveer Faiz | 2012 | 2015 |
Vice-Admiral Sohail Masood | 2015 | 2019 |
Vice-Admiral Ahmed Saeed | 2019 | 2021 |
Vice-Admiral Abdul Samad | 2021 | Present |
References
- ^ a b c Military correspondents. "Naval Chief inaugurated the headquarters of Naval Strategic Force Command". Pakistan Mil. Inter-Services Public Relations. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ Global Security. "Naval Strategic Forces Command". Global Security.
- ^ Staff (7 January 2003). "Pakistan to retain minimum nuclear deterrence, PM says". The News International.
- ISBN 0-7432-8344-9.
- ^ Umm-e-Habiba (2 October 2013). "Transforming role of Pak Navy: A consistent response to challenges". Frontier Post. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ NTI. "Submarine capabilities of Pakistan". The Nuclear Threat Initiatives Inc. Nuclear Threat Initiatives. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ Staff correspondents (23 February 2001). "Pakistan may install nuclear missiles on its subs". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Staff (26 January 2003). "Pakistan navy chief denies plan to equip submarines with nuclear warheads". Times UK.
- ^ www.webspider.pk, Web Spider (pvt) Ltd. "Pakistan Navy Launches Land-based Anti-ship Missile". www.hilal.gov.pk. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Review, Asian Military (11 January 2019). "Zarb cruise missile boosts Coastal Defence". Asian Military Review. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Telles, Ashley. "Striking Asymmetries: Nuclear Transitions in Southern Asia". Retrieved 11 November 2023.