Pakistan Navy receives second Type 054A/P Frigate from China

Asia-Pacific, News June 25, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Pakistan Navy formally commissioned the second Type 054A/P frigate, PNS Taimur, into its naval fleet on June 23, 2022.

The ceremony took place at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, where the head of the Pakistani Navy Mission to China Commodore Rashid Mehmood Sheikh was invited as the chief guest.

PNS Taimur is the second of the four Type 054 A/P frigates that are being built for the Pakistan Navy. Earlier this year in January, the first Type 054 A/P frigate PNS Tughril joined Pakistan’s naval fleet while another two frigates are yet to be commissioned.

Initially, Pakistan signed a contract for two Type 054 A/P frigates in 2017. An additional contract for two more ships was announced in June 2018. According to the contract, all four ships would be built in China and the first two have been delivered within the described timeline.

Type 054 A/P frigate is a Pakistan-specific variant of China’s Type 054A Jiangkai II-class frigate, China’s most advanced guided-missile frigate. Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operates 31 such frigates.

The Type 054 A/P version, designed for the Pakistan Navy, would be the country’s most technologically advanced and highly capable fleet of frigates with the enormous surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, and underwater firepower besides extensive surveillance potential.

The multi-role ship is capable of simultaneously executing numerous naval warfare missions in an intense multi-threat environment. It is also equipped with the latest combat management and electronic warfare system.

*^{Officials of the Pakistani and Chinese navies after the commissioning ceremony of the Pakistan Navy ship Taimur, at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, China. (Image Credit: Express)}*

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony the head of the Pakistan Navy Mission in China Commodore Rashid Mehmood Sheikh underlined that induction of state-of-the-art Type 054 A/P frigates will significantly enhance Pakistan Navy capabilities in strengthening the defense of sea frontiers.

Commodore Rashid Mehmood Sheikh also praised the concerted efforts made by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC), and China Ship Development & Design Centre (CSDDC), Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, and the Chinese Navy for the timely delivery of the well-equipped and frigate.

Pakistan Navy’s Type 054 A/P frigates are equipped with these equipped with SR-2410C phased radar and 32-cell Vertical Launching System (VLS) that can launch the YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missiles, eight C-803 anti-ship/land-attack cruise missiles, one PJ26 76mm dual-purpose naval gun, six 324mm Yu-7 ASW torpedo launchers, two Type 87 240mm anti-submarine rocket launcher and two Type 730 7-barrel 30mm CIWS guns.