Pakistan negotiating to buy warships from China

The Times of India ^ | November 12 2002 | AP

[knighthawk]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's navy announced on Tuesday that it is negotiating with China to buy an unspecified number of F-22 frigates, warships the military said would help fend off "a treacherous enemy".

A brief navy statement about the deal did not provide details about the ships or say how many vessels would be purchased and at what price. A navy spokesman declined to give further information.

But the statement said, "The government has accorded approval to carry out negotiations, which are underway, and very soon these latest state-of-the-art ships will be flying the Pakistani flag."

The navy would not say when the ships might be delivered.

"We have a treacherous enemy who misses no opportunity to take advantage and thrust hostilities upon us," the news release quoted Admiral Shahid Karimullah as saying. "It is therefore imperative that we remain fully prepared and alive to the situation for countering the nefarious designs of our adversary."

[knighthawk]

Pakistan plans to buy Chinese frigates

[knighthawk]

Ping

[pabianice]

What is a Chinese "F-22 class" frigate? Can't find a reference anywhere.

[knighthawk]

http://www.chinaships.com/busi/j-f22.html

[Oztrich Boy]

It's the export designnation of the Type 057 Jiangwei-II frigate

Not exactly overwhelming. As "State of the Art" they are about the same as the 25 year old ex-British T-21 Amazon class, which is the present Pakistan Navy.

And the Pakistanis aren't getting any technology "infusion" from China. The deal is just for the bare ship sans sensors and weapons

Which in itself is not a great idea as the Thais found when they made a similar deal at "friendship prices"

"Apparently, these frigates proved less than impressive to the Thai Navy. The quality of workmanship of the frigate was said to be inferior, and considerable rework was needed to bring the vessels up to acceptable standards. The ability of the ships to resist battle damage was extremely limited, and damage control facilities were virtually non-existent. Fire-suppression systems were rudimentary, and it appeared that were the hull breached rapid flooding would quickly lead to the loss of the ship. "

[Aaron_A]

I can't either...it must be this one.
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/jiangwei2.asp

[mgstarr]

They make great artificial reefs :-)

[Oztrich Boy]

To give the Paks their due, the Pakfleet has made phenomenal progress over the last 20 years

PakFleet "state of the art" 1982: British mid-40s

PakFleet "state of the art" 1992: USN early-60s

PakFleet "state of the art" 2002: British mid-70s

At this rate they will be ready to face the "treacherous enemy" sometime after 2030

[mikeIII]

This could be a Chinese gambit to gain a stronger foot-hold in Gwadar port near the Gulf!

[pabianice]

Thanks for the links.