ISLAMABAD – According to a press release of Pakistan Navy Media Directoratepublished on Friday, November 1, 2019, the steel cutting ceremony of twoType 054 A/P multi-role Frigates, being built for the Pakistan Navy, washeld at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in China.——————————
[image: Steel cutting ceremony for two Type 054AP in Pakistan built forPakistan Navy 925 001]*Chinese-made Type 054A Jiangkai-II class (Picturesource Sino Defense)*——————————
China recently started the construction of an export version of one of itsadvanced frigate and will deliver it to Pakistan as part of a major armsdeal. The ship is a version of the Chinese Navy’s most advancedguided-missile frigate Type 054AP
According to the Pakistani Navy, the ship’s class is Type 054AP, whichmeans it is based on the Type 054A of the People’s Liberation Army Navy.According to Chinese source, four frigates had been ordered by Pakistan.
The Pakistan Navy has ordered four Type 054AP frigates and the last twoorders were announced on 1 June 2018. The ships are expected to enterservice by 2021.
With these new ships, the Pakistani Navy will have one of the mosttechnologically advanced platforms of Pakistan Navy that would strengthenits capability to meet future challenges and maintain peace, stability andpower equilibrium in the Indian Ocean Region.
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The Type 054A frigate is a class of Chinese multi-role frigates, the firstof which entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy SurfaceForce in 2007. It is a development of the Type 054 frigate, using the samehull but with improved sensors and weapons. This ship has a crew of 165sailors including officers.
The Type 54A is equipped with 32 vertical launcher systems able to fire theHQ-16 medium-range air defence missiles and anti-submarine missiles, 2x4C-803 anti-ship/land-attack cruise missiles and two Type 730 seven-barrel30 mm Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS) guns, 2×3 324mm Yu-7ASW torpedolaunchers, 2×6 Type 97 240mm anti-submarine rocket launchers and 2 Type726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launchers.
The stern helicopter deck features a single landing spot for supporting themissions of a medium-size helicopter. The heli-deck is fitted withhelicopter handling system and can accommodate a Kamov Ka-28 Helix or aHarbin Z-9C helicopter.
