Pakistan turns to China for modern frigates
The Pakistan Navy (PN) signed a deal with the China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC) on 1 June for two additional Type 054A multi-mission frigates.
The signing for the 4,000t frigates took place at the Ministry of Defence Production in Rawalpindi, with price and close political alliance likely to have been a major factor in the decision. These platforms are set to constitute the navy’s most potent surface warships to date.
Pakistan ordered an initial two Type 054A frigates in 2017. This latest contract will ensure that the PN has a quartet of Type 054As operational by 2021, which indicates a
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