The United Kingdom has officially handed over three Royal Marines Landing Craft Air Cushion (Light) [LCAC(L)] hovercraft to the Pakistan Navy. This strategic transfer includes spare parts and in-service support, strengthening maritime cooperation between both two nations.
Hovercraft Refurbished for Extended Use
Originally decommissioned in 2021, the LCAC(L) hovercraft were refurbished by UK-based Griffon Marine Support under a contract awarded by DE&S in 2022. The DE&S Boats Team oversaw the refurbishment, while the DE&S Exports & Sales Team handled the government-to-government transaction.
The LCAC(L) hovercraft are capable of traversing both land and sea, offering high mobility in shallow waters. These features make them ideal for coastal patrol, humanitarian assistance, and rapid-response operations.
Enhancing Pakistan’s Maritime Capability
“This sale continues a long history of excellent defence equipment sales with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” said Commodore Richard Whalley, Head of Exports and Sales at DE&S. “It reaffirms our strong defence relations and supports the Pakistan Navy’s amphibious operations, while delivering value to the UK defence budget.”
A handover ceremony was held in London and attended by representatives from DE&S, the Pakistan High Commission, and senior defence officials from both governments.
Strategic Defence Cooperation
A Pakistan Navy spokesperson highlighted the importance of the transfer:
“The Pakistan Navy values its defence cooperation with the UK. Our acquisition of these hovercraft will boost our maritime security and HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) operations.”
Pakistan has a long history of using LCAC(L) platforms, and the recent delivery enhances its ability to conduct multi-domain operations in complex maritime environments.
Southampton-based Griffon Marine Support will provide ongoing maintenance and logistical support under a separate agreement with the Pakistan Navy.
“We are proud of this collaboration and look forward to supporting both the UK and Pakistan Navy fleets,” said Dan Pountney, Head of Griffon Marine Support.
The UK’s decision to hand over these hovercraft reflects its commitment to supporting allied forces with reliable, surplus defence equipment. The deal enhances regional maritime security and demonstrates growing UK–Pakistan defence cooperation.
