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  China's largest and most advanced surface combat ship ever exported was formally delivered

    A new frigate designed and built for the Pakistan Navy by China State Shipbuilding Corporation LTD was commissioned in Shanghai on November 8. The ship is the largest tonnage and most advanced surface combat vessel exported by China so far, which has an important milestone significance for further expanding the influence of Chinese ship products and comprehensively enhancing the competitiveness of Chinese ships in the international market. Du Gang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Leading Group and Director of CSSC, met with Pakistani Ambassador to China Maul Haq prior to the ceremony. The two sides held cordial and friendly talks, and then jointly attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Hussain Haider, Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai and other Chinese and foreign guests attended the ceremony upon invitation.

   The frigate is equipped with a new combat management system independently developed by CSSC and equipped with advanced sensors and weapon systems, demonstrating China's strong strength in frigate research and development, design and construction. During the ship's construction, the COVID-19 outbreak had a severe impact on the ship's construction schedule. China State Shipbuilding Trade Co., LTD., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, and the project team of Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. overcame numerous difficulties brought by the epidemic and ensured the ship's delivery on schedule.

   In 2018, Pakistan Navy confirmed the purchase of four Type 054A/P frigates from China, according to Pakistani media reports. Construction of a new frigate built by CSSC for the Pakistan Navy has begun at Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co LTD, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) announced on December 19, 2019. In August, the bow of type 054A/P frigate purchased by the Pakistani Navy from China was launched at Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co LTD.

                                  Image: Export type 054A, main mast radar is SR2410

    As the mother type of this class, The Type 054A missile frigate of the PLA Navy has a displacement of over 4,000 tons and a length of 135 meters. It uses four Pierstick 16PA6STC diesel engines produced by Shaanxi Chai Heavy Industry Co., LTD., and has a maximum speed of over 28 knots. It is equipped with one H/PJ26 76mm gun and two deep rocket launders. Two four-mounted Eagle strike 83 anti-ship missile launchers and 32 vertical launchers can launch Hongqi 16 ship-to-air missiles and anti-submarine missiles. The ship is equipped with two 730 (upgraded to 1130 later) short-range defense systems and can carry an anti-submarine helicopter.

    As the most advanced main battle ship acquired by The Pakistani Navy so far, and also the most advanced foreign trade type main battle ship exported by China after the 21st century, 054A/P is a slightly improved version of the Type 054A frigate used by the Chinese Navy. The ship as a whole with technology is mature, 054 a, the need to design, shorten the construction period, in addition to communications, electronic warfare systems used in accordance with foreign trade, it and 054 a has a significant difference, is the main mast airport on the S/C three coordinates, naval and air search radar, replaced by a more advanced use of phased array antenna SR2410C three-dimensional radar.
             

                     The bow of type 054A/P frigate purchased by Pakistan was launched.

    Learned, the new frigates project is China shipping group, the successful delivery to Pakistan in 2013 after four frigates, again the export of large surface warship to Pakistan, is a top research, overall design, assembly and build "the trinity" examples of successful application of equipment development model, its design and construction embodies the great progress of frigates and technology of China, It provides a new idea for the future development of Chinese equipment technology, and will play a positive leading role in the development of export ships.

    The successful export of type 054A/P frigate is China's first harvest in the international high-end frigate market, which is of great significance. The completion and delivery of the frigate is another major achievement of China-Pakistan friendship and will inject new strength into further consolidating china-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.