Commissioning Of Frigates Help Safeguard International Maritime Sea Lanes: Chinese Expert

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published May 11, 2023 | 11:40 AM

� BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th May, 2023 ) ::Pakistan's geographical location is very important, and the commissioning of four Type 054A/Ps frigates built by China for Pakistan Navy can help safeguard international maritime sea lanes, said Chinese military expert Song Zhongping.

China delivered two Type 054A/P frigates to Pakistan on Wednesday, indicating that all four warships of this class have been commissioned into the Pakistan Navy.

"The program is a mark of the enduring China-Pakistan friendship and the high-level defense cooperation between the two countries. The vessels are expected to serve Pakistan's seaward defense as well as safeguard regional peace and stability," analysts told Global Times.

A joint delivery and commissioning ceremony for the two Type 054A/P frigates was held in the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai.

The two newly built Type 054A/P frigates, namely the PNS Tippu Sultan and the PNS Shahjahan, were commissioned into the Pakistan Navy.

The first ship of this class, the PNS Tughril, was inducted into the Pakistan Navy in December 2021, and the second ship, the PNS Taimur, was inducted in June 2022.

According to experts, the Type 054A/P is one of the latest multi-role frigates of Chinese origin, equipped with the state-of-the-art weapons and sensors that include CM-302 surface-to-surface missiles and LY-80 surface-to-air missiles as well as an Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare suite and Combat Management System, enabling ships of this class to operate under multi-threat scenarios.

In his comment over delivery of the two frigates, Song told Global Times that it also means that the Pakistan Navy's main combat vessels are now superior to their main competitors in terms of comprehensive combat capabilities.

According to experts, as a maritime nation, Pakistan has substantial stakes in keeping its seas safe and secure, including the operationalization of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the global energy highway.