Zulfiquar-class frigate explained

The Zulfiquar-class frigate (Urdu: ذوالفقار|lit=''Sword''), also known as F-22P or in English: Sword class,[1] is a class of multi-mission guided missile frigates, in service with the Pakistan Navy.[2] The class is based on an updated model of the Chinese design, the Type 053H3.[3] The frigates were designed and built jointly in Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and the KS&EW Ltd. in Pakistan.[4]

The frigates perform missions including air defense, enemy interdiction, extraction and patrolling the economic exclusive zone (EEZ).[5] [6] [7] [8]

History

Negotiation, procurement, and development

After the return of the and s in 1994, Pakistan entered in negotiation with China to jointly built and design the class of four frigates in 1996–1999.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11] 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.[12]

The lead ship,, was launched in Shanghai on 5 April 2008, and completed several sea trials in China.[13] 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.

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.[14]

The second frigate of her class, PNS Shamsheer, was launched on 31 October 2008, and commissioned on 19 December 2009 at Shanghai.[15] [16] PNS Shamsheer reported to its base on 23 January 2010.[17]

The third frigate of her class, PNS Saif, was commissioned in the Navy on 15 September 2010.[18]

The fourth and last frigate PNS Aslat was built with transfer of technology at the KS&EW Ltd. and commissioned on 17 April 2013.[8] [19] [20]

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.[21] 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.[22] [23]

Design and technology

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.[24]

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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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. The FM-90N can engage several targets, including supersonic and subsonic sea-skimming missiles, using different guidance modes simultaneously. The system is also designed to engage small targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).[25] [26]

A 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.[27] 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.

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.[28] The helicopter can be armed with one torpedo on the starboard side.[29]

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.[30]

Ships in class

NameImagePennantShipyardLaid downLaunchedCommissioning
Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding12 October 20065 April 200819 September 2009
13 July 200731 October 2008[31] 19 December 2009[32] [33] [34]
4 November 200828 May 200915 September 2010
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, Ltd.10 December 2009[35] 16 June 2011[36] [37] [38] 17 April 2013[39]

Deployments

War on Terror

Afghan war and Yemen conflicts

See main article: 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 Zulfiquars 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.[40] [41]

Gallery

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Commissioning of F-22P frigate held in Shanghai . pk.china-embassy.org . Embassy of China, Islamabad . 4 November 2019 . Karachi . en . 20 December 2009.
  2. Book: Iqbal . Saghir . 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 . 2018 . Saghir Iqbal Co. . 9781986169424 . 290 . 1st . https://books.google.com/books?id=FGdaDwAAQBAJ&dq=f-22p+zulfiquar+class&pg=PA164 . en . google books . §(Pakistan Navy).
  3. News: Sword / F-22P Class Frigates – Naval Technology. Naval Technology. 2018-10-02. en-GB.
  4. Book: Small . Andrew . The China-Pakistan Axis: Asia's New Geopolitics . 2015 . Oxford University Press . United Kingdom . 9780190210755 . 288 . 1st . https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8CHCwAAQBAJ&dq=f-22p+zulfiquar+class&pg=PA304 . 20 September 2018 . en-gp . google books . The Trade Across the Roof to the World.
  5. Web site: Sword / F-22P Class Frigates, Pakistan. Naval Technology. 10 May 2014.
  6. Web site: Pakistan Gets New Chinese Frigate. Wendell Minnick. 2008-04-10. DefenseNews. 2008-10-21.
  7. News: Second F-22 P frigate arrives in Karachi. 2010-01-24. Daily Times (Pakistan). 2010-02-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20100129065025/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C01%5C24%5Cstory_24-1-2010_pg7_25. 29 January 2010. dead.
  8. News: Pakistan Navy Commissions Fourth F-22p Frigate. https://archive.today/20130630025629/http://paksoldiers.com/pakistan-navy/pakistan-navy-commissions-fourth-f-22p-frigate/. dead. 30 June 2013. 18 April 2013. paksoldiers.com. 18 April 2013.
  9. Book: Aldkerwick . Jason . etal . The Military Balance . 2009 . Routledge . New York, U.S. . 9781351225922 . 500 . https://books.google.com/books?id=4lFHDwAAQBAJ&dq=f-22p++1990s&pg=PA341 . 21 September 2018 . en-us . google books . Central and South Asia.
  10. Book: Fagoyinbo . Joseph Babatunde . The Armed Forces: Instrument of Peace, Strength, Development and Prosperity . 2013 . AuthorHouse . UK . 9781477226476 . 475 . https://books.google.com/books?id=qM0uxPH8RasC&dq=f-22p+zulfiquar+type+054&pg=PA391 . 21 September 2018 . en . google books . §Pakistan Navy PN.
  11. News: Pakistan gets Chinese F-22P frigates – Rediff.com India News . 22 September 2018 . news.rediff.com . Rediff news . 19 September 2009.
  12. Web site: KSEW . staff . Launching Ceremony – F22P Frigate . karachishipyard.com.pk . Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited . 22 September 2018.
  13. Web site: China Expands Military Ties With Pakistan . 2008-10-21 . Farhan Bokhari . 2008-04-05 . CBS News.
  14. News: UPI . UPI . Pakistan gets first Sword-class frigate . 22 September 2018 . UPI . 19 September 2009 . en.
  15. Web site: .: PAKISTAN NAVY :. A Silent Force to Reckon with... [ a 4 dimensional force] . paknavy.gov.pk . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081208092547/http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/pn_event_pr3.htm . 8 December 2008 . dead.
  16. Web site: John Pike . Pakistan Navy to get first F-22P Chinese Frigate in August . Globalsecurity.org . 2009-05-28 . 2015-03-06.
  17. Web site: Pakistan's Commissioning of F-22P Shamsheer frigate held in Shanghai. 2010-01-10. 2010-01-10. Emoiz. dead. https://archive.today/20120729184650/http://www.emoiz.com/commissioning-of-f-22p-%C2%91shamsheer%C2%92-frigate-held-in-shanghai/. 29 July 2012.
  18. Web site: The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News . Thenews.jang.com.pk . 2015-03-06 .
  19. News: F-22P frigate inducted into PN fleet. 7 August 2013. Dawn. Pakistan. 18 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203035120/http://x.dawn.com/2013/04/18/f-22p-frigate-inducted-into-pn-fleet/. 3 December 2013. dead.
  20. Web site: Pakistan commissions last Zulfiquar frigate. 7 August 2013. United Press International. 25 April 2013.
  21. Web site: Pakistan needs more F-22Ps, not Type 054A. KLS Review website. Klsreview.com. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2 June 2010.
  22. Web site: Martin . Guy . Karachi Shipyard to build two more F-22P frigates for Pakistan Navy . defenceweb.co.za . Defence web . 22 September 2018 . en-gb . 11 November 2012.
  23. News: Ansari . Usman . Pakistan shops for warships to replace British frigates, modernize Navy . 24 September 2018 . Defense News . 27 December 2017.
  24. News: A. Khan. Iftikhar. China to build frigates for Pakistan. 7 August 2013. Dawn. Pakistan. 5 April 2008.
  25. Web site: HongQi 7 Surface-to-Air Missile System. 24 June 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090604084700/http://www.sinodefence.com/army/surfacetoairmissile/hongqi7.asp. Sino Defence. 4 June 2009 .
  26. Web site: NAVAL HQ-7 Ship-to-Air Missile. 24 June 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090216152428/http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/navalmissile/hq7naval.asp. Sino Defence . 16 February 2009 .
  27. Web site: Pakistan set to receive Type 730B close-in weapon system . 2009-06-23 . 2009-06-16 . Janes International Defence .
  28. Web site: The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News . Thenews.jang.com.pk . 2015-03-06 .
  29. Web site: International Assessment and Strategy Center > Research > Report on the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) . Strategycenter.net . 2004-10-29 . 2015-03-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140705191802/http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.48/pub_detail.asp . 5 July 2014 .
  30. Web site: Z-9C (AS-365F) Daulphin. Hui Tong. 3 September 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090204023522/http://cnair.top81.cn/z-8_z-9_z-11.htm. 4 February 2009.
  31. Web site: Building of second Frigate for PN starts in China . 2008-06-11 . 2008-11-02 . AFP . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081212063821/http://pakobserver.net/200811/02/news/topstories13.asp. 12 December 2008 .
  32. Web site: Commissioning of F-22P frigate held . Nation.com.pk . 2009-12-20 . 2015-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091221194815/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/20-Dec-2009/Commissioning-of-F22P-frigate-held . 21 December 2009 . live .
  33. Web site: Commissioning of F-22P 'Shamsheer' frigate held in Shanghai. 20 December 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100626091532/http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=93950. The News. 26 June 2010 .
  34. http://news.wateen.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3813
  35. News: Steel-cutting ceremony of first F22P Frigate held . 6 March 2009 . 7 August 2013 . .
  36. News: Pakistan Navy launches F-22P Frigate manufactured at KS&EW. 17 June 2011. 17 June 2011. Daily Times (Pakistan). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121022164703/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C06%5C17%5Cstory_17-6-2011_pg7_6. 22 October 2012.
  37. News: F-22P Frigate inducted in PN. Business Recorder. 17 June 2011. 17 June 2011.
  38. News: Pak-China manufactured: Pakistan Navy inducts Naval ship Aslat. The Express Tribune. 16 June 2011. 17 June 2011.
  39. News: Commissioning ceremony of F-22p frigate held. 18 April 2013. Pakistan Observer. 18 April 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160119161840/http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=204069. 19 January 2016.
  40. Web site: New al Qaeda wing in South Asia claims major attack. 17 September 2014. Reuters.
  41. Web site: Al Qaeda Militants Tried to Seize Pakistan Navy Frigate. 16 September 2014. The Wall Street Journal.

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