China Delivers Warship To Pakistan Claims As Very Advanced
China on Monday delivered to Pakistan the largest warship ever exported by China to any Country. They also claim it to be very advanced in capabilities. The move highlights the friendship between the two countries and will contribute to further drawing Pakistan firmly within the Chinese fold.
Pakistan perforce has to depend on Chinese all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, as USA, European Countries and Russia will not supply such weapon systems. Turkey is the only other friend of Pakistan.
This so called advanced frigate has been designed and built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC). It was delivered to the Pakistan Navy in a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai on Monday 08Nov.
The Type 054A/P frigate has been named the PNS Tughril, according to a statement the Pakistan Navy. The PNS Tughril is the first hull of four Type 054 frigates being constructed for the Pakistan Navy. The ship is claimed to be a technologically advanced and highly capable platform with enormous surface-to-surface, surface-to-air and underwater firepower, besides extensive surveillance potentials.
Being equipped with state-of-the-art combat management and an electronic warfare system along with modern self-defense capabilities, the Type 054A/P frigate can simultaneously execute a number of naval warfare missions in a highly intense multi-threat environment, said a Pakistani statement.
Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque said that the commissioning of the PNS Tughril ushers in a new chapter in Pakistan-China friendship that has matured through the test of time and remained steadfast in all domains, according to the statement from the Pakistan Navy.
In the context of the overall security paradigm of the region, Tughril-class frigates will strengthen Pakistan Navy’s capabilities to respond to maritime challenges to ensure seaward defense, maintain peace, stability and balance of power in the Indian Ocean region, the ambassador said, who also praised the concerted efforts made by China for the landmark achievement by the timely delivery of the well-equipped and potent frigate despite the global pandemic.
The Vice Party Secretary and Director of the Board at CSSC Du Gang also applauded the timely construction of PNS Tughril while emphasizing that the commissioning of the ship is a major milestone and a testimony of the China-Pakistan long-lived friendship, as both countries are bound by the affinity of trust, compassion and commonality.
The head of the Pakistan Navy Mission overseeing construction of the 054A/P frigate, Commodore Rashid Mehmood Sheikh, said that the PNS Tughril, being a multi-mission capable frigate, will form the mainstay of the Pakistan Navy fleet while bolstering the Pakistan Navy’s maritime defense capabilities.
Compared to previous Chinese frigates, the new ship has better air defense capability, as it is equipped with an improved radar system and a larger amount of missiles with a longer range, Zhang said, noting that the Type 054A frigate also has world-class stealth capability.
Though many countries including the Pakistan Air Force are ruing the day they agreed to buy and induct Chinese weapon Systems. Maintenance is proving to be a nightmare and the serviceability rate us very poor.
