Pakistan first F-22 frigate arrives in Karachi

[tauheedameen]

KARACHI : The first F-22 P Frigate of Pakistan Navy PNS Zulfiquar constructed in China, arrived here on Saturday amid ongoing Naval exercise in the Arabian Sea.

An ISPR (Navy) press release issued here on Saturday said that the ship was welcomed by the PN surface and aviation units conducting exercise.

PNS Zulfiquar also participated in its very first naval exercise which was witnessed by Commander Pakistan Fleet, Rear Admiral Asif Sandila.

Upon completion of exercise, the ship proceeded to Karachi Harbour where it was given a warm welcome by Pakistan Navy officers and men.

PNS Zulfiquar is the first of the series of four ships being constructed in collaboration with China at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai.

The second and third ship are also nearing completion and expected to be handed over to Pakistan in the first and third quarter of 2010.

The fourth ship is under construction at Karachi Shipyard and is to be completed by 2013.

F-22 P frigate is a Sword Class Ship equipped with long range surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, depth charges, torpedos, latest automatic 76mm guns, Close-in-Weapon System (CIWS), sensors, Electronic Warfare and advanced Command and Control System.

The ship has a displacement of 3000 tons and carries Anti Submarine Z9EC helicopters.

The first batch of two helicopters has already arrived in Pakistan.

Formal induction ceremony of the ship in PN Fleet would be held in the third week of this month.



Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2009

[Neo]

Pak Navy gets frigate built in China

Sunday, 13 Sep, 2009

The first F-22 P frigate of Pakistan Navy PNS Zulfiquar entering Karachi harbour on Saturday.—Online.

KARACHI: The first F-22 P frigate of the Pakistan Navy, PNS Zulfiquar, constructed in China, arrived here on Saturday and took part in the ongoing naval exercises in the Arabian Sea.

The ship was welcomed by the PN surface and aviation units conducting exercises.

PNS Zulfiquar also participated in its very first naval exercises, which were witnessed by the Commander of Pakistan Fleet, Rear Admiral Asif Sandila.

After taking part in the exercises, the ship proceeded to Karachi harbour.

PNS Zulfiquar is the first of four ships being built in collaboration with China at Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai.

The second and third ships are also nearing completion and expected to be handed over to Pakistan next year. The fourth ship is under construction at Karachi Shipyard and is to be completed by 2013.

F-22 P frigate is a Sword class ship equipped with long range surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, depth charges, torpedos, latest automatic 76mm guns, close-in-weapon system, sensors, electronic warfare and advanced command and control system.

[Mian Asad]

[Solid Beast]

First Sword Class Frigate Arrives In Pakistan

By USMAN ANSARI
Published: 13 Sep 2009 14:55

SLAMABAD, Pakistan - The Pakistan Navy's first Sword/F-22P class frigate arrived in Karachi on Sept. 13.

According to a press release from the Pakistan navy, before entering Karachi Port the frigate undertook its first exercise with other ships and aerial assets of the fleet in the Arabian Sea, all under the watchful gaze of Rear Adm. Asif Sandila, commander of the Pakistan fleet.

PNS Zulfiquar, a modification of the Type-53H3 design, was constructed at Shanghai's Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard and was commissioned on July 30 this year. Two other ships of the class have also been constructed at the shipyard and will sail for Pakistan in the third quarter of next year.

The fourth ship is currently undergoing construction in Karachi under a transfer of technology deal. The steel cutting ceremony for the so-far unnamed ship took place in March this year, and it is expected to join the fleet by 2013.

The class is armed with an all-Chinese weapons fit consisting of a 76.2mm main gun, developed from the Russian AK-176M; eight C-802/CSS-N-8 Saccade anti-ship missiles; an eight-round FM-90, which is an improved variant of the HQ-7, itself a copy of the Thomson-CSF Crotale; two hangar-top Type-730 30mm CIWS units; RDC-32 anti-submarine rockets; and two triple ET-52C torpedo tubes. A single Harbin Z-9EC ASW helicopter is also embarked, which provides over-the-horizon targeting for the C-802 anti-ship missiles. According to the navy, two Z-9EC helicopters have already arrived in Pakistan.

The arrival of PNS Zulfiquar marks the first time in Pakistan's history in which it has received a new-build major frontline warship. To date all acquisitions have been surplus ships mainly from the U.S. and United Kingdom. The navy's frontline fleet currently consists of six aging ex-Royal Navy Type-21 frigates of 1970s vintage, three of which are fitted with Chinese LY-60N SAM armament, and the remainder with Boeing RGM-84A Harpoon anti-ship missiles due to space and top weight limitations. That makes the 3144-ton Sword class frigates considerably more versatile.

PNS Zulfiquar is expected to be formally accepted by the navy this coming week.

[Araz]

Where are the pics guys. Come on you can do better than that!!!
Araz

[Interceptor]

PNS Zulfiquar

[owais.usmani]

The Navy sure knows how to keep their new ship clean

[owais.usmani]

[owais.usmani]

[keysersoze]

I don't know about you guys, But I think in these times they should keep all this pomp to minimum. I mean when the RN received its newest ship a few hundred "well wishers" showed up and that was it.