F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigate

The PNS Zulfiquar, the lead ship of her F-22P-class frigates.
Class overview
Name: Zulfiquar (Sword) class
Builders:
Operators: Pakistan Navy
Preceded by: Type 053H3 frigate
Cost: $750 million USD[1]
Planned: 4
Building: 0
Completed: 4
Active: 4
General characteristics
Type: Frigate
Displacement:
  • 2,500 tonnes (standard)[2][3][4]
  • 3,144 tonnes (full load)[5]
Length: 123.2 m (404 ft)
Beam: 13.8 m (45 ft)
Draught: 3.76 m (12.3 ft)
Propulsion:
Speed: 29 kn (54 km/h) maximum[2][3]
Range: 4,000 nmi (7,400 km)
Troops: 2 × Btn PMC
Complement: 15 Officers, 200 Enlist
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 × Harbin Z-9EC ASW helicopter
Aviation facilities: Flight deck and enclosed hangar

The F22P Zulfiquar-class frigate (Urdu: ذوالفقار ; Eng. Trans. Sword), also known as F-22P or Zulfiquar-class, is a class of "multi-mission frigates", currently in service with the Pakistan Navy.[6] The class is based on The ship is based on an updated model of the Chinese Type 053H3 frigate.[7] The frigates were designed and built jointly in Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and the KESW Ltd. in Pakistan.:108-109[8]

The frigates are tasked with the capability of performing multi-mission including providing the air defense, enemy interdiction, extraction, and patrolling the economic exclusive zone (EEZ).[9][10][11][12]

History

Negotiation, procurement, and development

After the return of the Garcia-class and Brooke-class in 1994, Pakistan entered in negotiation with China to jointly built and design the class of four frigates in 1996–99.:341[13] Initial interests were directed towards procuring the Type-053 and Type-054 frigates in 2004, eventually signing a bilateral agreement with China to design the frigates influenced from both designs at the initial price of $600 million USD with the conclusion of the technology transfer to Pakistan on 4 April 2006.:391[14]

The contract was expanded with China as Pakistan Navy ordered to equip the F-22P Zulfiquar with six Z-9EC helicopters with anti-submarine capability and additional ammunition according to their specifications, concluding the final cost at $750 million USD.[15] The Chinese government awarded the contract to the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, where the last three ships were constructed and built, while Pakistan awarded the contract to KSEW Ltd. for the construction and development of the last ship.[16]

The first and lead ship, PNS Zulfiquar-251, was launched in Shanghai on 5 April 2008, and completed several sea trials in China.[17] On the way to Pakistan, Zulfiquar-251, under the command of Capt. Zahid Ilyas paid a goodwill visit to Port Klang in Malaysia on August 2009, and also paid a goodwill visit to Colombo Port in Sri Lanka where she was visited by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, on 5 September 2009.[18]

The PNS Zulfiquar-251 was eventually commissioned in the Navy by then-R-Adm. Asif Sandila (senior fleet commander of the Surface Command), which was docked at the Karachi Port on 15 September 2009.[19]

The second frigate of her class, PNS Shamsheer, was launched on 31 October 2008, and gained commissioned in the Navy on 19 December 2009 in Shanghai.[20][21][22][23] The PNS Shamsheer reported to its base on 23 January 2010.[24]

The third frigate of her class, PNS Saif, was commissioned in the Navy on 15 September 2010.[25]

The fourth and last frigate PNS Aslat was built with transfer of technology at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Limited and commissioned on 17 April 2013.[12][26][27]

In 2010, Chief of Naval Staff, Adm. Numan Bashir, quoted in media of Navy's intention to expand its fleet by procuring additional ships.[28] In 2015, it was reported that Pakistan Navy awarded the contract to the KSEW Ltd. to build two more F-22P Zulfiquar frigates, which are currently being constructed.[29][30]

Design

The F-22P hull uses many of the radar cross-section reduction features of China's Type 054 frigate to help it evade detection by radar mounted on other ships, aircraft and anti-ship missiles.[31]

76 mm main gun

The 76.2 mm calibre main gun is a Chinese development of the Russian AK-176M, the main difference being that the Chinese variant adopts are-designed stealthy turret to reduce radar cross-section. The gun is designed to engage ships, aircraft and anti-ship missiles. In front of the main gun are two 6-cell RDC-32 anti-submarine rocket launchers.[4]

The frigate's primary surface-to-surface missile armament comprises eight C-802 subsonic anti-ship missiles carried in two launchers with four cells each, fitted between the foremast and the funnel. These containers are also compatible with the CY series anti-submarine rockets and may be loaded with a combination of anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons.

FM-90N surface-to-air missile launcher

The FM-90N surface-to-air missile (SAM) system is fitted between the main deck and main gun. The launcher has eight cells each containing one missile and is fitted on a mount that can be elevated and traversed in the direction of the threat. The FM-90N can engage several targets, including supersonic and sub-sonic sea-skimming missiles, using different guidance modes simultaneously. The system is also designed to engage small targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).[32][33]

Single Type 730B, a close-in weapon system (CIWS), is mounted on the aircraft hangar. Comprising two seven-barrel Gatling guns of 30 mm calibre, the F-22P is believed to be the first ship armed with the Type 730B.[34] which uses off-mount sensors such as the Type 347G radar and the OFC-3 electro-optic director. The guns are mounted side-by-side on the aircraft hangar, with the off-mount sensors in between. The CIWS can be upgraded with the FL-3000N fire-and-forget missile system by installing up to two single-round FL-3000N launchers on each existing CIWS gun mount.

Graphical design of the F-22P frigate

The Harbin Z-9EC anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter is equipped with a surface-search radar, low frequency dipping sonar, radar warning receiver, doppler navigation system and armed with torpedoes.[35] The helicopter can be armed with one torpedo on the starboard side.[3] A small antenna on the roof may provide a data-link, allowing the Z-9 to act as a relay for targeting data between the ship and long range anti-ship missiles such as the C-802.[36]

Ships

Name Pennant Shipyard Laid down Launched Commissioning
PNS Zulfiquar 251 Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard 12 October 2006 5 April 2008 [10] 19 September 2009 [18]
PNS Shamsheer 252 13 July 2007 31 October 2008 [37] 19 December 2009 [38][39][40]
PNS Saif 253 4 November 2008 28 May 2009 15 September 2010
PNS Aslat 254 [41] Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works 10 Dec 2009 16 June 2011 [42][43][44] 17 April 2013 [45]

Incidents

On 6 September 2014, PNS Zulfiquar was attacked by al-Qaeda affiliated militants and rogue Pakistani Navy personnel who attempted to capture the ship and had plans to use it to attack US Navy vessels. The attack was foiled by Pakistani forces. The attackers had intended to use Zulfiquar's anti-ship missiles to attack the U.S. Navy Fleet in the Arabian Sea. Ten militants which included four rogue ex-Pakistani navy personnel were killed by Pakistani forces in their efforts to foil the capture attempt. Four other officers who were involved but who did not participate in the attack were later apprehended.[46][47]

PNS Zulfiquar (251), lead ship of the F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigates, during a visit to Port Klang, Malaysia, on 27 August 2009:

References

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