(Karachi) China's Hudong Zhonghua launched the first Type 054 A/P Frigate for Pakistan Navy, media reported on Sunday. This is the first of four vessels on order by Pakistan.

As per details, the Type-054 A/P ships are state of the art frigates equipped with modern surface, subsurface and anti air weapons and sensors. Once constructed, these ships will be the most technologically advanced platforms of Pakistan Navy which will strengthen its capability to meet future challenges and maintain peace, stability & power equilibrium in the Indian Ocean Region.

In 2017, Pakistan signed a first contract for the delivery of two Type 054 A/P frigates. An additional contract for two more ships was announced in June 2018. The keel laying for the second vessel took place in March this year. Steel cutting for the final two ships took place in November last year. All four units are set to be built in China and delivered to Pakistan by 2021.

The Type 054A is a multi-role frigate and has a length of 134 meters, a beam of 16 meters for a displacement of 4,000 tons. They have a crew complement of 165 sailors and are fitted with a PJ26 76mm main gun, eight C803 anti-ship missiles and torpedo launchers.