Aamir Hussain
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
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In my humble opinion, PN is trying to form at least three hunter killer groups built around dedicated ASW platform with heavy frigates acting as Air Defense platforms.
The hunter/killer group would be built around two multi-purpose patrol frigates with state of the art ASW capability (Typically ASW Platforms hunt in pairs). At present, none of the platforms have state of the art ASW capability. The Type 21's have a mix of various weapons system including some Swedish systems. The F22P's are also not that up to the mark in ASW capability.
Similarly, the fleet air defense frigate is just not there to give cover to the ASW units. This is where the need for a FM-90 armed frigate or a destroyer emerges (I am not in favor of buying destroyer as it costs too much to run over the platforms' mission life -- the newer frigates have taken over most of the dedicated destroyer roles with ever smaller weapon systems and electronics).
All the above frigates would be armed with AshM -- this where PN has an edge with a combo of Harpoon, Exocet and C802 armed platforms. All of them are at the cutting edge of the technology and most of them, if not all, are battle tested weapon systems.
The need of the hour is to upgrade the ASW capability, ( including ASW Helo platforms-- I do not know why PN is reluctant to embark ASW/Anti ship helos on its Type 21 frigates -- they are decent ships and have some life left in them) and provide fleet SAM systems.
My above theory is based upon the current weapons suit on the type 21's.
Furthermore, the submarine force will act as the main punch against the intrusion of major surface units into the exclusion zone if we end up going to war against India.
My spin on the discussion.
The hunter/killer group would be built around two multi-purpose patrol frigates with state of the art ASW capability (Typically ASW Platforms hunt in pairs). At present, none of the platforms have state of the art ASW capability. The Type 21's have a mix of various weapons system including some Swedish systems. The F22P's are also not that up to the mark in ASW capability.
Similarly, the fleet air defense frigate is just not there to give cover to the ASW units. This is where the need for a FM-90 armed frigate or a destroyer emerges (I am not in favor of buying destroyer as it costs too much to run over the platforms' mission life -- the newer frigates have taken over most of the dedicated destroyer roles with ever smaller weapon systems and electronics).
All the above frigates would be armed with AshM -- this where PN has an edge with a combo of Harpoon, Exocet and C802 armed platforms. All of them are at the cutting edge of the technology and most of them, if not all, are battle tested weapon systems.
The need of the hour is to upgrade the ASW capability, ( including ASW Helo platforms-- I do not know why PN is reluctant to embark ASW/Anti ship helos on its Type 21 frigates -- they are decent ships and have some life left in them) and provide fleet SAM systems.
My above theory is based upon the current weapons suit on the type 21's.
Furthermore, the submarine force will act as the main punch against the intrusion of major surface units into the exclusion zone if we end up going to war against India.
My spin on the discussion.