Three decommissioned Royal Marines hovercraft have been sold to Pakistan in a government-to-government deal aimed at supporting coastal and humanitarian operations, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has confirmed.
The Landing Craft Air Cushion (Light), or LCAC(L), were previously operated by 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines before being withdrawn from service in 2021. The vessels have now been refurbished and transferred to the Pakistan Navy as part of a broader UK effort to deliver surplus military assets to partner nations through DE&S’s Exports and Sales Team.
The platform, capable of operating over both land and water, is considered well-suited to the maritime geography of Pakistan’s coastal regions. It will be used for tasks including shallow-water patrols, amphibious support, humanitarian relief, and rapid deployment operations.
According to DE&S, the hovercraft were prepared for delivery by Southampton-based Griffon Marine Support under contract. The company, which has provided maintenance and refit services to DE&S for several years, will also supply in-service support for the craft under a direct agreement with the Pakistan Navy.
Commodore Richard Whalley, Head of Exports and Sales at DE&S, said the agreement builds on a “long history of excellent defence equipment sales with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” He added that “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 spokesperson for the Pakistan Navy described the acquisition as part of a broader strategic partnership. “The Pakistan Navy values its defence cooperation with the UK. This is evident through joint exercises, training exchanges, defence acquisitions and collaborative efforts in maritime security,” the statement said. “Our recent acquisition of hovercraft from the UK will enhance our defence capabilities, particularly in maritime security and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations.”
Dan Pountney, Head of Griffon Marine Support, said the company was pleased to be continuing its relationship with both DE&S and the Pakistan Navy. “It has been a pleasure working alongside the DE&S Exports & Sales Team and the DE&S Boats Team… to prepare the hovercraft for sale to our long-standing customer, the Pakistan Navy,” he said.
The DE&S Exports and Sales Team operates out of the MOD’s Bristol headquarters and is tasked with managing the disposal and resale of surplus UK defence equipment, aiming to secure economic value while extending the operational use of military assets through international partnerships.
Let’s hope Pakistans navy has enough engineers to maintain them.
Very high maintenance per hour of operation, they shake themselves to death.
Not a direct replacement but would like to see the Griffon Wyvern. Won’t happen.
Ha, ha, replacement!! Good one that!
Maybe as part of the LCU replacement programme?
Griffon’s landing craft designs are huge anyway, the Commando Insertion Craft is nearly as big as the current LCU.
There were 4 LCAC.
Wonder what happened to the other.
There was one in The Solent yesterday, just off Osborne Bay, IoW.
Kept stopping and starting but sounded very rough.
If Pakistan could maintain and rebuild French Mirages i am sure they would be able to maintain 4 hovercraft.
Maybe we should have recovered our F35B before announcing this.
I expect the large number of Pakistanis arriving in the UK in small boats will now be equipped with these.
Don’t we keep anything theses days 🙄
Could we do something better? Would it have been better to donate these craft to the RNLI or MVS for operations say in the Bristol Channel. If anyone has seen the channel at low tide the mud flats are huge. Also useful in areas such as the Wash.
The RNLI has a hovercraft at Hunstanton for the very purpose you describe covering The Wash, plus 3 further hovercraft at Hoylake, Morecambe and Southend on Sea.