Pakistan Navy is facing severe mechanical issues with at least four of its multi-role frigates developed by the Chinese Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding firm, according to Italy-based Geopolitica.info analysis. Three of these frigates were acquired from the China Shipbuilding Trading Company, and one was built at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works using technology transferred from the Chinese company.
Pakistan signed a $750 million contract with China in 2005 to design and build 2,500t multi-mission, conventionally powered frigates of the F-22P or Zulfiqar class, delivered between September 2009 and April 2013.
The Pakistan Navy had assigned these frigates the following missions:
- Air defence of a force operating at sea or in convoy
- Interdiction of hostile surface combatants
- Commerce raiding, patrolling, and EEZ protection
- Undertaking heliborne operations
The think tank claims that the frigates are ineffective as surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles on board cannot lock onto targets.
The ship’s two sensors, which are essential for air and surface surveillance, the infra-red sensor (IR17) system and SR 60 radars, are also defective.
The report also cites a critical deficiency in the frigates’ engines, causing increased exhaust temperatures and negatively affecting their speed. The high exhaust temperature increases the IIR image of vessels. Four diesel engines power the frigates. The critical engine defect, especially in engines 3 and 4, on all the frigates shows that the engines will face problems with functioning and will need an overhaul.
The think tank claims that the ships’ search and track radars were not working as well. PNS Aslat, for instance, suffers from an ASO-94 Sonar system with faulty computing units. The SR-47 BG Search Radar has not performed as it was required and repaired with cannibalised parts from other F22P ships.
The NG 16 single barrel 76mm naval gun mounted in PNS Zulfiqar encounters problems as the HP5 stabiliser gyro is not functioning well.
