PNS Saif, the F-22P Frigate has arrived at the Karachi Port. PNS Saif, the third ship of the F-22P series, delivered to Pakistan Navy in September this year.
Briefing newsmen on board PNS Saif, the Commander Pakistan Fleet, PNS Zulfiquar was the first of the series of four ships. The ship arrived in Pakistan in September 2009 and formally inducted in Pakistan Navy Fleet.The second ship PNS Shamsheer reached Pakistan in January 2010 and formally inducted in PN Fleet in February 2010.Vice-Admiral Tanveer Faiz, said that contract was signed in 2005 with China for four ships of F-22P type.As part of the contract, three ships were to be constructed in China and one in Pakistan with the assistance of Chinese shipyard.Admiral Faiz said that PNS Saif is the third ship constructed in China. He stated that fourth one is under construction at the Karachi Shipyard and would be completed in couple of years.For the construction of this ship, a lot of up gradation and modifications were carried out at the Karachi Shipyard. Admiral Faiz said that these are very capable ships and that because of these there has been a boost to the defense capabilities of Pakistan Navy.
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Pakistan's Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir, reaffirmed defence ties between Pakistan and China during the commissioning of the Pakistan Navy's third Sword-class (F-22P) frigate in Shanghai on 15 September.
Admiral Bashir said in a ceremony to mark the event that the "present geopolitical situation demands further strengthening of [China-Pakistan] relations and I assure you that Pakistan is deeply committed to achieving our shared objectives".
The frigate, named PNS Saif , is the last F-22P unit to be built by Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua to a modified Jiangwei II (Type 053H3) design, under an agreement between Islamabad and Beijing signed in April 2005. A fourth ship is currently being built by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works under a technology transfer agreement and is expected to enter service in 2013.
The procurement contract for the four 2,250-ton frigates includes six Z-9EC helicopters and is worth an estimated USD750 million.
The F-22P programme represents one of four major defence industry collaboration projects being undertaken by the two neighbouring countries. Other projects are the JF-17 Thunder aircraft, a joint venture between the Chengdu Aircraft Industry in China and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC); the Al-Khalid I main battle tank, which was developed by Pakistan's Heavy Industries Taxila with assistance from China; and development of an airborne early warning and control aircraft, which would see collaboration between the PAC in Karma, northern Pakistan, and the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology.
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