The first of Pakistan’s big-ticket arms acquisitions from China are starting to take shape. From new multi-mission frigates and submarines to armoured vehicles and multi-role combat aircraft, Pakistan will induct these new systems through the 2020s. In each of these procurement streams, China is the lead supplier.
China Launches First Type 054A/P Frigate for Pakistan Navy
On 23 August 2020, the Pakistan Navy (PN) Director General of Public Relations (DGPR), Rear Admiral M. Arshid Javed, announced through social media that China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. (CSTC) launched Pakistan’s first Type 054A/P frigate at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard.
Pakistan ordered four Type 054A/Ps in 2017 and 2018. CSTC cut the steel of the first two frigates in 2018, with the second two ships following in 2019. It laid the keel of the second ship in April 2020. According to the press releases at the time Pakistan signed its contracts, the PN was to receive all four ships by 2021.[1]
The PN’s Type 054A/P is largely similar to its counterpart in the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the Type 054A. However, the PN did request several modifications, such as a new main search radar. The PN may also equip its frigates with a different anti-ship missile, potentially the Harbah dual-land-attack and anti-ship cruising missile (LACM/ASCM) or the forthcoming supersonic-cruising ASCM.
With a displacement of around 4,000 tons, the Type 054A/P will be the largest surface combatant the PN will have operated in its history. In addition to standard-fare anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-ship warfare (AShW) capabilities (which are available on existing PN assets), the Type 054A/P will deliver area-wide anti-air warfare (AAW) coverage. This will come through the form of 32 vertical-launch system (VLS) cells, which will house a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM), likely the HQ-16.
The PN also ordered eight air-independent propulsion (AIP)-equipped submarines from China. Designated the Hangor-class, the PN did not disclose the specific design or model of its submarines. However, Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) displayed a model of the Hangor with some of its specifications.
The Hangor is slightly shorter in length than the S26, the standard export model China is offering. It also has a larger displacement than the S26. However, these specifications may not reflect the final design of the submarine – both China and Pakistan have kept the details and progress of the program under wraps.
This may be due to the secretive nature of China’s submarine programs. However, China did publicize the steel-cutting ceremony of Thailand’s first S26T submarine in 2018.[2] Thus, the secrecy surrounding the PN program does seem exceptional, even by the Chinese shipbuilding industry’s standards.
The PN is currently scheduled to receive the first four Hangor-class submarines by 2023, while KSEW will manufacture the remaining four by 2028. With the first four ships due in three years, one should expect news about a launch soon, unless the PN intends to publicize the ships when it inducts them.
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