Retrospective: Pakistan Navy Surface Combatants (2007–2026) Pro

Introduction

Since 2007, the Pakistan Navy (PN) surface combatant fleet has seen significant expansion in numbers and advancements in capabilities. It has grown from eight second-hand ex-Royal Navy (RN) frigates with, at best, semi-multi-mission capabilities (i.e., a typical configuration of the ex-RN Type 21 would either involve anti-ship warfare missiles or short-range surface-to-air missiles) to a fleet of 13 – and still growing – new-build 2,900+ ton platforms fully integrated with anti-surface/ship warfare (ASu/ShW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and area-wide, medium-range anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities. Moreover, the PN replaced its second-hand ex-RN ships with new-build platforms, thus crossing the threshold of once being confined to only mothballed and second-hand ships to not only new-build ones, but commencing from the Babur-class (MILGEM) corvette, custom-designed combatants. It also moved away from depending solely on Western suppliers and, in their place, diversified by sourcing from China and Turkiye (alongside Damen Group of the Netherlands, the sole Western OEM).

In this 19-year period, the evolution of the PN’s surface combatant fleet underwent three arcs, each with distinct shifts in how the Naval Headquarters (NHQ) leadership set the long-term goal of the surface combatant fleet. The first arc drove a conservative vision, one aimed towards replacing the ex-RN ships with cost-effective, generationally newer platforms of both new Chinese and used American make. The second arc was a response to the inability to complete the first arc as originally planned (which relied on six ex-US Navy frigates that could not be secured) and to the need to reevaluate suppliers. The third arc was driven by an intentional goal to expand the surface fleet, thereby imbuing the PN with presence in the Arabian Sea as both a capable peacetime maritime security player.

This retrospective covers the aforementioned three arcs in detail and concludes with an analysis of how a fourth arc might develop, one that must balance a structural realignment to focus on the Arabian Gulf and Middle East with traditional India-centric anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) imperatives.

First Arc: Conservative Iteration (2007–2012)

Pursuit of Ex-US Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-Class Frigates

The first arc involved an attempt to replace the aging Tariq-class (ex-Royal Navy Type 21) frigates with six ex-US Navy FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry (OHP) frigates. The PN had begun contracting the Turkish company Havelsan to provide its GENESIS combat management system (CMS) for the frigates.¹ In 2010, the lead ship — PNS Alamgir — was inducted, but the remainder of the procurement program fell through due to changes (read: tighter restrictions) in the US’ arms transfers to Pakistan. Consequently, the PN was left with a lone OHP-class frigate – PNS Alamgir – and was consequently forced to alter its procurement plans.