Pakistan’s New Type 054 A/P Frigate Started Sea Trials In China

[Saithan]

The first Type 054 A/P frigate for the Pakistan Navy started sea trials in late May. Local ship spotters images show the frigate leaving the Hudong Zhonghua shipyard (near Shanghai) under her own power...​

Martin Manaranche 17 Jun 2021
Pakistan signed an initial contract for the delivery two Type 054 A/P frigates in 2017. An additional contract for two more ships was announced in June 2018. The first-in-class frigate was launched in August 2020 and the second in January 2021. As for the third one, the keel laying took place on May 1st 2021. All four units are built in China and the first two are expected to be delivered to the customer by year end.


First Type 054 A/P frigate for Pakistan Navy leaving Shanghaï harbour.

According to a Pakistan Navy press release, the Type-054 A/P ships are state of the art frigates equipped with modern surface, subsurface and anti air weapons and sensors. Once constructed, these ships will be the most technologically advanced platforms of Pakistan Navy which will strengthen its capability to meet future challenges and maintain peace, stability & power equilibrium in the Indian Ocean Region.

The Pakistan Navy is currently undertaking an important renewal of its fleet, with the procurement of several modern platforms: In addition to these frigates from China, Pakistan will also commission new corvettes from Turkey and OPV from the Netherlands. It is also modernizing its submarine force.

About Type 054A and Type 054 A/P​

First Type 054 A/P for Pakistan Navy

The Type 054A is a multi-role frigate and is recognized as the backbone of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fleet of surface combatants with 30 vessels in commission. They have a length of 134 meters, a beam of 16 meters for a displacement of 4,000 tons. They have a crew complement of 165 sailors and are fitted with:

• a H/PJ-26 76mm main gun
• 8 C803 anti-ship missiles
• 32x VLS cells for HQ-16 surface to air missiles
• 2x Type 730 30mm CIWS
• 2x Triple Torpedo launchers

In PLAN service, those frigates feature a Type 382 radar which shares a close resemblance with the Russian MR-710 Fregat radar. Unlike the Pakistan Navy variant – whose first ship-in-class is fitted with a SR2410C radar – the Type 054A in Chinese Navy service do not feature a long range / metric wave radar.

Pakistan's New Type 054 A/P Frigate Started Sea Trials in China - Naval News

The first Type 054 A/P frigate for the Pakistan Navy started sea trials in late May. Local ship spotters images show the frigate leaving the Hudong Zhonghua shipyard (near Shanghai) under her own power...

www.navalnews.com

 

[Turko]

The type 054 seems most economical frigate as she uses just 4 diesels instead of popular Diesel/gas turbine combination.

İt costs around 250 million USD.

 

[Gessler]

The type 054 seems most economical frigate as she uses just 4 diesels instead of popular Diesel/gas turbine combination.

İt costs around 250 million USD.

The choice for CODAD for PLAN FFGs was doctrine-driven. Not sure how that would apply to Pakistan Navy's use-case.

A good thread on the matter:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1428626620668022785

And the radar choice is also interesting, considering PLAN refuses to adopt the same for even their most recent ships:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1446742492255113218

 

[Nilgiri]

Pakistan Navy's First Type-054AP FFG Ready For Commissioning

The Pakistan Navy’s (PN) first of four Type-054AP guided-missile frigates (FFG) is expected to be commissioned early next month at China's H...

trishul-trident.blogspot.com

A well armed ship for its size, any additional thoughts? @Bilal Khan(Quwa) @Anmdt @AlphaMike et al.

 

[Gary]

Pakistan Navy's First Type-054AP FFG Ready For Commissioning

The Pakistan Navy’s (PN) first of four Type-054AP guided-missile frigates (FFG) is expected to be commissioned early next month at China's H...

trishul-trident.blogspot.com

A well armed ship for its size, any additional thoughts? @Bilal Khan(Quwa) @Anmdt @AlphaMike et al.

My thoughts is how I wish we could launch our own AH140 this fast.

 

[Anmdt]

Pakistan Navy's First Type-054AP FFG Ready For Commissioning

The Pakistan Navy’s (PN) first of four Type-054AP guided-missile frigates (FFG) is expected to be commissioned early next month at China's H...

trishul-trident.blogspot.com

A well armed ship for its size, any additional thoughts? @Bilal Khan(Quwa) @Anmdt @AlphaMike et al.

It is a good general purpose frigate, has got 32 VLS that can pack full length missiles and i think it is decent for the size. For the sensors it is mediocre but has got all the necessary ones (ECM, ECCM, ESM), this is the way for general purpose frigates nowadays (see FREMM, Type 31).

I would say similar to the OHP in terms of the operationability (dimension, sea keeping), but lacking the speed, thus maybe Pakistan is going to retire the OHPs after getting these.

 

[Bilal Khan(Quwa)]

Pakistan Navy's First Type-054AP FFG Ready For Commissioning

The Pakistan Navy’s (PN) first of four Type-054AP guided-missile frigates (FFG) is expected to be commissioned early next month at China's H...

trishul-trident.blogspot.com

A well armed ship for its size, any additional thoughts? @Bilal Khan(Quwa) @Anmdt @AlphaMike et al.

tbh for the PN's own standards, this is an outlier of a purchase. It's underpowered relative to its size. The AAW suite is dated compared to the CAMM-ER set-up onboard the Babur-class corvette and Jinnah-class frigate. Moreover, the latter two ships will make up the majority of the PN's future fleet. The Jinnah-class especially will likely see a large production run (IMHO 8-12 ships).

Simply put, I think the PN got a really, really good price on these and it decided to buy them. Maybe the Chinese had surplus kits left over from the PLAN's production line and said, 'hey we can sell these ships to you at a markdown.'

 

[Gary]

tbh for the PN's own standards, this is an outlier of a purchase. It's underpowered relative to its size. The AAW suite is dated compared to the CAMM-ER set-up onboard the Babur-class corvette and Jinnah-class frigate. Moreover, the latter two ships will make up the majority of the PN's future fleet. The Jinnah-class especially will likely see a large production run (IMHO 8-12 ships).

Simply put, I think the PN got a really, really good price on these and it decided to buy them. Maybe the Chinese had surplus kits left over from the PLAN's production line and said, 'hey we can sell these ships to you at a markdown.'

From what I see, PN opted for the high-low mix with the Jinnah class frigate acting as the higher end platform in the fleet while 054AP acted as the lower end.

 

[Lonewolf]

Isnt

From what I see, PN opted for the high-low mix with the Jinnah class frigate acting as the higher end platform in the fleet while 054AP acted as the lower end.

Jinnah underarmed too , I remember a photo circulated here , which showed that it didn't had good weapons for its tonnage .


Also do camm er has aesa seeker? @Bilal Khan(Quwa)

 

[Gary]

Jinnah underarmed too , I remember a photo circulated here , which showed that it didn't had good weapons for its tonnage .

Hmm at 2900 tons it's actually quite armed, compare that to our 2800tons Sigma 10514. Which has less VLS and a little inferior SAM.

It carries less SSM but its missile (Harbah) are larger than ours (Exocet).

Anyway just curious if the Jinnah has quad pack ability.

 

[Nilgiri]

My thoughts is how I wish we could launch our own AH140 this fast.

tbh for the PN's own standards, this is an outlier of a purchase. It's underpowered relative to its size. The AAW suite is dated compared to the CAMM-ER set-up onboard the Babur-class corvette and Jinnah-class frigate. Moreover, the latter two ships will make up the majority of the PN's future fleet. The Jinnah-class especially will likely see a large production run (IMHO 8-12 ships).

Simply put, I think the PN got a really, really good price on these and it decided to buy them. Maybe the Chinese had surplus kits left over from the PLAN's production line and said, 'hey we can sell these ships to you at a markdown.'

Yup PRC shipyard capacity and economy of scale.

I wish PRC was far less totalitarian-authoritarian setup + (ongoing) consequence and was on good relations with India...

Too bad, this (industrial capacity + inertia for next few decades by what is there now alone) is going to be quite the daunting thing for number of countries incl. India to meet the challenge.

 

[Nilgiri]

From what I see, PN opted for the high-low mix with the Jinnah class frigate acting as the higher end platform in the fleet while 054AP acted as the lower end.

I think thats the philosophy PN in general (and maybe armed forces with time more broadly) is and will be following.

Get a Turkish spearhead system, fill it with whatever can be done from the west subsystem wise. Expand it forwards to local capacity as possible.

TR is likely the only plank remaining for pakistan for it...but even that might close with time (seeing the western attitude to Pakistan heading where it is), we will see.

Then bulk up rest of spear with chinese stuff as can be afforded and timed with Chinese MIC. Replace spearhead later with this stuff if push comes to shove geopolitically (from west) etc.

 

[Anmdt]

Isnt

Jinnah underarmed too , I remember a photo circulated here , which showed that it didn't had good weapons for its tonnage .


Also do camm er has aesa seeker? @Bilal Khan(Quwa)

Jinnah is scalable. Nothing much known about the final design yet, the published model was an early design study based on the first requirements and detailed information should be available in an article related to the IDEF.

Probably you are referring to the PN Milgem which is equipped with Albatros NG. And i would like to pay attention to the tonnage and other features it is packing at that tonnage, hard to call it under armed with 12 Albatros NG, yet to be increased at 24 if needed or to be replaced with 16 full length VLS.

Considering Babur class is not an AAW oriented corvette/frigate but a fleet escort, ASW patrol-GP corvette these features are sufficient.

Jinnah class will not have a single configuration as well.

Hmm at 2900 tons it's actually quite armed, compare that to our 2800tons Sigma 10514. Which has less VLS and a little inferior SAM.

It carries less SSM but its missile (Harbah) are larger than ours (Exocet).

Anyway just curious if the Jinnah has quad pack ability.

That is not Jinnah but PN Milgem (Safe to call Babur Class if they are not renaming the class later).

Jinnah class is the next step to design a frigate to span from 3200 tonnes to 4500 tonnes with ease. And will host more local systems from Pakistan with a CODAD configuration, the missile systems have not received a final review but the model in IDEF has only hosted Albatros NG.

PN Milgem was meant to be with 16 full length VLS (Mk41 size), and it can pack total of 24 Albatros NG when needed (has sufficient space spared), now has 12 installed.

Hard to compare systems one to one, Pakistan had chance to modify the PN Milgem up to their finest request (additional comm systems, additional satcom and link terminals, customized ESM/ECCM). At some point even replacing CODAG to CODAD was considered but Milgem's CODAG was optimized to tiny detail (should be available in one of the thread related to the naval forces in general section under a thread named marine engine systems) in the past and it is a tight fit, redesign process has indicated higher costs thus fallen back to the CODAG.

 

[Lonewolf]

Jinnah is scalable. Nothing much known about the final design yet, the published model was an early design study based on the first requirements and detailed information should be available in an article related to the IDEF.

Probably you are referring to the PN Milgem which is equipped with Albatros NG. And i would like to pay attention to the tonnage and other features it is packing at that tonnage, hard to call it under armed with 12 Albatros NG, yet to be increased at 24 if needed or to be replaced with 16 full length VLS.

Considering Babur class is not an AAW oriented corvette/frigate but a fleet escort, ASW patrol-GP corvette these features are sufficient.

Jinnah class will not have a single configuration as well.

That is not Jinnah but PN Milgem (Safe to call Babur Class if they are not renaming the class later).

Jinnah class is the next step to design a frigate to span from 3200 tonnes to 4500 tonnes with ease. And will host more local systems from Pakistan with a CODAD configuration, the missile systems have not received a final review but the model in IDEF has only hosted Albatros NG.

PN Milgem was meant to be with 16 full length VLS (Mk41 size), and it can pack total of 24 Albatros NG when needed (has sufficient space spared), now has 12 installed.

Hard to compare systems one to one, Pakistan had chance to modify the PN Milgem up to their finest request (additional comm systems, additional satcom and link terminals, customized ESM/ECCM). At some point even replacing CODAG to CODAD was considered but Milgem's CODAG was optimized to tiny detail (should be available in one of the thread related to the naval forces in general section under a thread named marine engine systems) in the past and it is a tight fit, redesign process has indicated higher costs thus fallen back to the CODAG.

Babur class don't have mk41 as per my info

 

[Bilal Khan(Quwa)]

The PN is waiting on an optimal VLS solution. I don't think the SYLVER and Mk41 were available, so NHQ settled with GWS. However, I think the ships will get a VLS change in their respective MLUs (e.g., the new Turkish VLS).

That said, I don't think there's a "high-end, low-end" philosophy. Functionally, the Type 054A/Ps are at the same quality tier (to the PN) as the Jinnah-class. These are the 'large' multi-mission ships. Ultimately, the PN found that it could greatly boost its fleet with the 4 Type 054A/Ps, and went with that route instead of strictly relying on the Jinnah-class. I think the rapid turnaround of the 4 Type 054A/Ps was also a factor (on top of an attractive price-point). However, in the long-run (by the 2040s), I think the PN will have 8-12 Jinnah-class frigates.

 

[Lonewolf]

W

The PN is waiting on an optimal VLS solution. I don't think the SYLVER and Mk41 were available, so NHQ settled with GWS. However, I think the ships will get a VLS change in their respective MLUs (e.g., the new Turkish VLS).

That said, I don't think there's a "high-end, low-end" philosophy. Functionally, the Type 054A/Ps are at the same quality tier (to the PN) as the Jinnah-class. These are the 'large' multi-mission ships. Ultimately, the PN found that it could greatly boost its fleet with the 4 Type 054A/Ps, and went with that route instead of strictly relying on the Jinnah-class. I think the rapid turnaround of the 4 Type 054A/Ps was also a factor (on top of an attractive price-point). However, in the long-run (by the 2040s), I think the PN will have 8-12 Jinnah-class frigates.

Hat is speed of construction of a single Babur class from keel laying to launching and induction ?

 

[Gessler]

@Anmdt @Bilal Khan(Quwa)

What is the reason behind PN supposedly going with CODAD in the Jinnah? Considering the Milgem/Babur comes with GE LM2500 turbine?

 

[Anmdt]

Babur class don't have mk41 as per my info

Mk41 is given as an example of the size it can fit.

@Anmdt @Bilal Khan(Quwa)

What is the reason behind PN supposedly going with CODAD in the Jinnah? Considering the Milgem/Babur comes with GE LM2500 turbine?

https://defencehub.live/threads/pak...-started-sea-trials-in-china.8047/post-135949

Explained in this post briefly in the last paragraph.

 

[Gessler]

Mk41 is given as an example of the size it can fit.


https://defencehub.live/threads/pakistan’s-new-type-054-a-p-frigate-started-sea-trials-in-china.8047/post-135949

Explained in this post briefly in the last paragraph.

Does the Istanbul-class itself have CODAG?

Or it too is CODAD like the Jinnah?

 

[Anmdt]

Does the Istanbul-class itself have CODAG?

Or it too is CODAD like the Jinnah?

Ada Class, I-Class, Ukranian Milgem and PN Milgem are all CODAG running on exactly same propulsion ,the diesel engine model may vary due to the discontinuation of the diesel engine used on Ada class but it is identical in size, rpm and output.