The launching ceremony of 2nd ship of Type 054A/P frigate, constructed forPakistan Navy, was held at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard Shanghai, China.
According to a spokesperson of Pakistan Navy, the ceremony was graced byCommodore Azfar Humayun, Chief Naval Overseer, China, as chief guest.
Addressing the ceremony, Commodore Azfar Humayun highlighted that inductionof these warships will significantly enhance Pakistan’s maritime defenceand deterrence capabilities. He also acknowledged the commitment, hard workand timely completion of this important milestone project by M/s CSTC andHZ Shipyard, Shanghai, despite ongoing global pandemic.
Type-054 Frigates will be one of the most technologically advanced surfaceplatforms of Pakistan Navy fleet, fitted with latest surface, subsurfaceand anti-air weapon systems. The ships will be fitted with a range ofelectronic warfare, air and surface surveillance and acoustic sensorsintegrated through state of the art Combat Management System.
The Pakistan Navy ordered four Type-054A/P Frigates in 2017. All the shipsare being delivered as per planned schedule, said the spokesperson.
The occasion of launching ceremony also coincides with the completion of 70years of Pak-China diplomatic relations built upon historic bonds offriendship and mutual trust. The ceremony was also attended by various highlevel Chinese officials including representatives of M/s China ShipbuildingTrading Company (CSTC) and HZ Shipyard.
Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the PLA Naval Military StudiesResearch Institute, said in a previous interview that the Type 054A, onwhich the Type 054A/P is based, is China’s most advanced frigate. Comparedwith previous Chinese frigates, the new version has better air defencecapability, as it is equipped with an improved radar system and a largeramount of missiles with a longer range, Zhang said, noting that the Type054A frigate also has world-class stealth capability.
Earlier on January 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched thewelding of the third ship to be constructed for the Pakistan Navy under theMilgem project. Ambassador of Pakistan in Turkey Mohammad Syrus Sajjad Qazialso accompanied Erdogan at the groundbreaking of the third out of a totalof four Milgem Ada-class corvette for the Pakistan Navy in Istanbul.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Erdogan said Pakistan is “our brotherlycountry with whom Turkey enjoys excellent relations”. He underscored thatthe defence collaboration for the construction of Milgem class warships wasanother milestone in Turkey-Pakistan defence ties.