Highlights:
- Pakistan acquired the PNS Tughril frigate from China, in an attempt to boost the Pakistani naval defence
- The new warship has improved combat mechanisms in air and water besides having excellent surveillance potential.
China has recently transported one of its biggest and highly futuristic warships to Pakistan gearing up the navy of its perpetual ally in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, besides increasing its naval presence in the past years.
The warship, designed and manufactured by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) was dispatched to Pakistan in a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai.
The frigate type 054A/P was titled PNS Tughril as reported by Global Times on Tuesday. Moin ul Haque, the Pakistani Ambassador to China commented that authorization of the PNS Tughril would ascertain the balance of power in the Indian ocean.
The PNS Tughril is the first framework of 4 Type 054 frigates being built for the Pakistan Navy. In the light of the comprehensive security paradigm of the region, the Tughril-class warships will heighten Pakistan Navy’s capabilities to counter maritime challenges, guarantee seaward defence, keep up peace, stability and balance of power in the region encompassing the Indian ocean, said Moin ul Haque.
The vessel is a highly advanced and competent ship with colossal surface-to-surface, surface-to-air and underwater firepower alongside extensive surveillance potentials.
It is equipped with an avant-garde combat mechanism coupled with an electronic warfare arrangement in addition to contemporary self-defence capabilities. The PNS Tughril can accomplish numerous naval warfare operations in a vigorous environment involving a multitude of threats.
Pakistan will be acquiring 8 Chinese submarines for the upgradation of the Pakistani navy along with four modern naval frigates into the bargain, as quoted by Chief Admiral M Amjad Khan Niazi.
The new Chinese frigate has enhanced air defence capability in addition to a revamped radar system and an increased number of missiles having a longer striking range, as stated by Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at PLA naval academy.
