DTN News: China To Hand Over First Frigate To Pakistan Thursday

DTN News: China To Hand Over First Frigate To Pakistan Thursday

*Source: DTN News / Aaj TV Online - Pakistan Ki Awaz (NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - July 26, 2009: Pakistan Navy would receive first of the four state-of-the-art Frigates F-22P type on July 30 as Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nauman Bashir has reached China for formal taking over of the fighting vessel, National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence Production was told on Saturday.

The F-22P Class frigate is armed with 8 C-802 surface-to-surface and 8 HHQ-7 (improved ) surface-to-air missiles. However the F-22P uses the Russian AK-176M 76.2mm as its main gun, instead of the Chinese 100mm counterpart. Physically, the F-22P has a stealthier platform as it uses a lot of the Type 054 frigate’s Radar Cross Sectional (RCS) reduction concepts. In 2008, first F-22P frigate (the one on the image) will be transferred to Pakistan Navy. These photos are taken from the shipyard of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd in Shanghai.

The meeting of the parliamentary body was presided over by MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmed who is also Chairman of the Standing Committee.

Giving briefing to the Standing Committee the representative of the Directorate General of Defence Production said that the weapons systems to be installed on the ship to be handed over to Pakistan have been successfully demonstrated at the optimum performances and ranges.

Pakistan Navy is acquiring four new F-22P class frigates under collaboration with China as first three ships are being constructed at Hudong Shanghai and last one at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering works.

F-22P frigates are equipped with modern weaponry and sensors. Each ship of them will carry Anti-submarine Z9EC helicopters. First batch of two helicopters has arrived in Pakistan. Induction of F-22P frigates will not only enhance the war fighting potential of Pakistan Navy but will also strengthen the indigenous ship building capability of the country.

The representative of Karachi Shipyard apprised the meeting that China with the help of local engineers has started work on the construction of fourth frigate while a number of hurdles were on the way to launch the work to its capacity.

The committee assured of their full cooperation in help alleviating the hurdles on the way to construct the vessel which would pave the way to not only acquire ship making technology but also bring the country in the club of manufacturing huge vessels indigenously. The meeting was attended by its members besides senior officers of the allied departments of the ministry.