Pakistan Navy commissions two new Type 054 A/P frigates

The Pakistan Navy has held a commissioning ceremony for two new Type 054 A/P frigates.

As informed, the ceremony took place in Shanghai in China on 10 May. The ships in question are PNS Tippu Sultan and PNS Shahjahan.

The commissioning ceremony for the second vessel PNS Taimur took place in June last year.

The Type 054A (NATO/OSD Jiangkai II) is a class of guided-missile frigate from the People’s Republic of China. Chinese shipbuilding company Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard is building the frigates for the Pakistan Navy. 

The contract for four multi-role frigates Type 054A/P for Pakistan Navy was signed between Pakistan and China in June 2018.

The frigates displace 4,000 tons and are equipped with vertical launch systems (VLS), a 76 millimeter gun, close-in weapons systems and torpedo launchers. They have a flight deck and hangar capable of supporting medium lift helicopters.