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Zulfiquar-class frigate

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The Zulfiquar-class frigate (Urdu: ذوالفقار, lit. 'Sword'), also known as F-22P or in English: Sword class,[7] is a class of multi-mission guided missile frigates, in service with the Pakistan Navy.[8] The class is based on an updated model of the Chinese design, the Type 053H3.[9] The frigates were designed and built jointly in Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and the KS&EW Ltd. in Pakistan.: 108–109 [10]

PNS Zulfiquar anchored in Port Klang in Malaysia in 2009.
Class overview
NameZulfiquar class
Builders
OperatorsPakistan Navy
Preceded byTariq class
Succeeded by
SubclassesType 053H3 frigate
Cost
  • $750 million USD (4 Ships)[1]
  • $187.5 million USD per unit
Built2006–2009
In service2008–present
In commission2009–present
Planned4
Completed4
Active4
General characteristics
TypeGuided missile frigate[2]
Displacement
  • 2,500 tonnes (standard)[3][4][5]
  • 3,144 tonnes (full load)[6]
Length123.2 m (404 ft 2 in)
Beam13.8 m (45 ft 3 in)
Draught3.76 m (12 ft 4 in)
Propulsion
Speed29 knots (54 km/h) maximum[3][4]
Range4,000 nmi (7,400 km)
Complement15 Officers, 200 Enlists
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried1 × Harbin Z-9EC ASW helicopter
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck and enclosed hangar

The frigates perform missions including air defense, enemy interdiction, extraction and patrolling the economic exclusive zone (EEZ).[11][12][13][14]

History

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Negotiation, procurement, and development

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After the return of the Garcia-class and Brooke-class frigates in 1994, Pakistan entered in negotiation with China to jointly built and design the class of four frigates in 1996–1999.: 341 [15] 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 [16]

The contract was expanded with China as the Pakistan Navy ordered to equip the Zulfiquar class with six Z-9EC helicopters with anti-submarine capability and additional ammunition according to their specifications, concluding the final cost at $750 million USD.[17] 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 KS&EW Ltd. for the construction and development of the last ship.[18]

The lead ship, PNS Zulfiquar, was launched in Shanghai on 5 April 2008, and completed several sea trials in China.[19] On the way to Pakistan, Zulfiquar, under the command of Captain Zahid Ilyas paid a goodwill visit to Port Klang in Malaysia in 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.[citation needed]

PNS Zulfiquar was commissioned into the Pakistan Navy by then-Rear Admiral Asif Sandila (senior fleet commander of the Surface Command), which was docked at the Karachi Port on 15 September 2009.[20]

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

The third frigate of her class, PNS Saif, was commissioned in the Navy on 15 September 2010.[24]

The fourth and last frigate PNS Aslat was built with transfer of technology at the KS&EW Ltd. and commissioned on 17 April 2013.[14][25][26]

In 2010, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Numan Bashir, quoted in the media of the Navy's intention to expand its fleet by procuring additional ships.[27] In 2015, it was reported that Pakistan Navy awarded the contract to the KS&EW Ltd. to build two more Zulfiquar-class frigates, which as of September 2018 are being constructed.[28][29]

Design and technology

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The 76.2 mm gun mounted on the F-22P as main naval artillery.[5]

The Zulfiquar class hull uses many of the radar cross-section reduction features of the Chinese Type 054 frigate to help it evade detection by radar mounted on other ships, aircraft and anti-ship missiles.[30]

The armory features the Chinese engineered Russian patent, AK-176M–a 76.2 mm calibre– being the main artillery gun with the distinction of that the Chinese variant adopts the stealth turret to reduce radar cross-section.[5] The gun is designed to engage enemy warships, aircraft and anti-ship missiles. In front of the main gun are two 6-cell RDC-32, the anti-submarine rocket launchers.[5]

The Zulfiquar class is a guided missile frigate (FFG) with the introduction and the installation of the armament comprises eight C-802 "Eagle Strike", the Chinese manufactured subsonic surface-to-surface missiles, carried in two launchers with four cells each that are fitted between the foremast and the funnel.[11] 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.[11] In addition, the warships are installed with the FM-90N "Red Flag", a Chinese-built surface-to-air missile system, is fitted between the main deck and main gun.[11]

The launch pad 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.[11] The FM-90N can engage several targets, including supersonic and subsonic sea-skimming missiles, using different guidance modes simultaneously.[11] The system is also designed to engage small targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).[31][32]

 
A graphical design of the F-22P on the LightWave 3D CAD.

A single Type 730B, a close-in weapon system (CIWS), is mounted on the aircraft hangar.[11] 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.[33] which uses off-mount sensors such as the Type 347G radar and the OFC-3 electro-optic director.[11]

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.

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.[34] The helicopter can be armed with one torpedo on the starboard side.[4]

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.[35]

Ships in class

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Name Image Pennant Shipyard Laid down Launched Commissioning
Zulfiquar  
F251
 Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding 12 October 2006 5 April 2008[12] 19 September 2009[citation needed]
Shamsheer
F252
 13 July 2007 31 October 2008[36] 19 December 2009[37][38][39]
Saif  
F253
 4 November 2008 28 May 2009 15 September 2010
Aslat  
F254
 Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, Ltd. 10 December 2009[40] 16 June 2011[41][42][43] 17 April 2013[44]

Deployments

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War on Terror

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Afghan war and Yemen conflicts

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Main articles: War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), War in North-West Pakistan, Saudi-led blockade of Yemen, and Moro conflict

The lead warship, PNS Zulfiquar, has been deployed on operations in the War on Terror. She was attacked by AQIS-affiliated militants and rogue Pakistan Navy personnel who attempted to capture the ship and use it to attack US Navy vessels on 6 September 2014. The attack was foiled by Pakistan's Navy SEALs Teams. The attackers had intended to use Zulfiquar's anti-ship missiles to attack the United States 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.[45][46]

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

  •  
    The pennant number of PNS Zulfiquar.
  •  
    Two 4-cell C-802 anti-ship missile launchers.
  •  
    ET-52C torpedo launchers.

References

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  1. ^ "Sword / F-22P Class Frigates – Naval Technology". Naval Technology. Naval Technology. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  2. ^ "PNS Zulfiquar (251) Guided-Missile Frigate Warship – Pakistan". militaryfactory.com. militaryfactory. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b "F22P Frigate". Karachi Shipyard. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  4. ^ a b c "International Assessment and Strategy Center > Research > Report on the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS)". Strategycenter.net. 29 October 2004. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d Defense News[dead link]
  6. ^ "Commanding Officer of Pakistan Navy Ship 'Zulfiquar' calls on Commander of the Navy". Sri Lanka Navy. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Commissioning of F-22P frigate held in Shanghai". pk.china-embassy.org. Karachi: Embassy of China, Islamabad. 20 December 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  8. ^ Iqbal, Saghir (2018). "§(Pakistan Navy)" (google books). Pakistan's War Machine: An Encyclopedia of its Weapons, Strategy and Military Security: Pakistan's War Machine: An Encyclopedia of its Weapons, Strategy and Military Security (1st ed.). Saghir Iqbal Co. p. 290. ISBN 9781986169424.
  9. ^ "Sword / F-22P Class Frigates – Naval Technology". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  10. ^ Small, Andrew (2015). "The Trade Across the Roof to the World" (google books). The China-Pakistan Axis: Asia's New Geopolitics (1st ed.). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. p. 288. ISBN 9780190210755. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "Sword / F-22P Class Frigates, Pakistan". Naval Technology. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  12. ^ a b Wendell Minnick (10 April 2008). "Pakistan Gets New Chinese Frigate". DefenseNews. Retrieved 21 October 2008.[dead link]
  13. ^ "Second F-22 P frigate arrives in Karachi". Daily Times (Pakistan). 24 January 2010. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  14. ^ a b "Pakistan Navy Commissions Fourth F-22p Frigate". paksoldiers.com. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  15. ^ Aldkerwick, Jason; et al. (2009). "Central and South Asia" (google books). The Military Balance. New York, U.S.: Routledge. p. 500. ISBN 9781351225922. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  16. ^ Fagoyinbo, Joseph Babatunde (2013). "§Pakistan Navy PN" (google books). The Armed Forces: Instrument of Peace, Strength, Development and Prosperity. UK: AuthorHouse. p. 475. ISBN 9781477226476. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  17. ^ "Pakistan gets Chinese F-22P frigates – Rediff.com India News". news.rediff.com. Rediff news. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  18. ^ KSEW, staff. "Launching Ceremony – F22P Frigate". karachishipyard.com.pk. Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  19. ^ Farhan Bokhari (5 April 2008). "China Expands Military Ties With Pakistan". CBS News. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  20. ^ UPI, UPI (19 September 2009). "Pakistan gets first Sword-class frigate". UPI. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  21. ^ ".: PAKISTAN NAVY :. A Silent Force to Reckon with... [ a 4 dimensional force]". paknavy.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  22. ^ John Pike (28 May 2009). "Pakistan Navy to get first F-22P Chinese Frigate in August". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  23. ^ "Pakistan's Commissioning of F-22P Shamsheer frigate held in Shanghai". Emoiz. 10 January 2010. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  24. ^ "The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News". Thenews.jang.com.pk. Retrieved 6 March 2015.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ "F-22P frigate inducted into PN fleet". Dawn. Pakistan. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  26. ^ "Pakistan commissions last Zulfiquar frigate". United Press International. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  27. ^ "Pakistan needs more F-22Ps, not Type 054A". KLS Review website. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Klsreview.com. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  28. ^ Martin, Guy (11 November 2012). "Karachi Shipyard to build two more F-22P frigates for Pakistan Navy". defenceweb.co.za. Defence web. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  29. ^ Ansari, Usman (27 December 2017). "Pakistan shops for warships to replace British frigates, modernize Navy". Defense News. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  30. ^ A. Khan, Iftikhar (5 April 2008). "China to build frigates for Pakistan". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  31. ^ "HongQi 7 Surface-to-Air Missile System". Sino Defence. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  32. ^ "NAVAL HQ-7 Ship-to-Air Missile". Sino Defence. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  33. ^ "Pakistan set to receive Type 730B close-in weapon system". Janes International Defence. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2009.[permanent dead link]
  34. ^ "The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News". Thenews.jang.com.pk. Retrieved 6 March 2015.[permanent dead link]
  35. ^ Hui Tong. "Z-9C (AS-365F) Daulphin". Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  36. ^ "Building of second Frigate for PN starts in China". AFP. 2 November 2008. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  37. ^ "Commissioning of F-22P frigate held". Nation.com.pk. 20 December 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  38. ^ "Commissioning of F-22P 'Shamsheer' frigate held in Shanghai". The News. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  39. ^ [1][dead link]
  40. ^ "Steel-cutting ceremony of first F22P Frigate held". Daily Times (Pakistan). 6 March 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2013.[permanent dead link]
  41. ^ "Pakistan Navy launches F-22P Frigate manufactured at KS&EW". Daily Times (Pakistan). 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  42. ^ "F-22P Frigate inducted in PN". Business Recorder. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  43. ^ "Pak-China manufactured: Pakistan Navy inducts Naval ship Aslat". The Express Tribune. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  44. ^ "Commissioning ceremony of F-22p frigate held". Pakistan Observer. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  45. ^ "New al Qaeda wing in South Asia claims major attack". Reuters. 17 September 2014.
  46. ^ "Al Qaeda Militants Tried to Seize Pakistan Navy Frigate". The Wall Street Journal. 16 September 2014.
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