UK transfers three ex-Royal Marines hovercraft to Pakistan Navy

DefenseNews: The UK’s loss is Pakistan’s gain as former Royal Navy LCAC’s are sold after being refurbished.

The UK has sold three previously decommissioned Landing Craft Air Cushion (Light) (LCAC(L)) hovercraft to the Pakistan Navy, following the completion of a refurbishment process ahead of the transfer.

According to a 30 June release from the UK’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), an arm of the Ministry of Defence, the deal also includes associated spares.

Previously used by Royal Marines, the hovercraft were decommissioned from service in 2021. In 2022, DE&S awarded UK-based Griffon Marine Support a contract to refurbish the vessels and prepare them for transfer. 

Griffon Marine Support, headquartered in Southampton, will continue to provide in-service support for the hovercraft under its own contract with the Pakistan Navy.

Vital to amphibious operations, the LCAC(L) offers Pakistan a mobile, shallow-water capability for operations such as coastal patrol, humanitarian assistance, and rapid deployment missions.

The sale was processed by the DE&S Export & Sales Team, tasked with the sale of defence equipment deemed surplus to requirements.

Commodore Richard Whalley, head of Exports and Sales at DE&S, said: “By transferring these proven assets, we are supporting the Pakistan Navy’s ability to enhance its coastal and amphibious operations, supporting our shared goal of maintaining global security as well as providing a return for the UK’s defence budget.”

A Pakistan Navy spokesperson said the acquisition would enhance the service’s defence capabilities, particularly “in maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations”.

UK sees no use for LCAC capability

The UK’s decision to axe its Albion-class amphibious assault ships in 2024 effectively ended its ability to conduct amphibious operations at scale, until the future introduction of the Multi-Role Strike Ships (MRSS), at some point in the 2030s.

As a result, the UK has to rely on its few remaining Bay-class landing ship docks to provide such capability, although at a vastly reduced scale.

The decision by the UK to sell the LCAC(L) vessels also appears at odds with the need to find solutions to the tens of thousands of illegal migrants crossing the Channel from France on an annual basis.

According to UK government figures, between the week of 23-29 June, a total of 703 ‘irregular migrants’ made the journey from France to the UK, in ten separate crossings.

Able to operate seamlessly from land to water-borne operations, the LCACs appear well-suited for use in maritime patrol and HADR operations throughout UK waters.