PNS Shamsheer, the second Chinese-built F-22P Frigate of the Pakistan Navy (PN), arrived on Saturday at the Karachi port after being commissioned in December 2009 in Shanghaim China.
En route to Karachi, the ship visited Singapore and Colombo (Sri Lanka). Approaching Karachi harbour, it was welcomed out at sea by the PN surface and aviation units.
Later, upon arrival, a reception ceremony was held at the PN Dockyard. Pakistan Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Tanveer Faiz, a large number of PN officers and families of the ships crew were also present.
According to an ISPR statement, PNS Shamsheer is the second of the series of four ships being constructed for the PN in collaboration with China at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. The third ship is also nearing completion and is expected to be handed over to Pakistan in the third quarter of 2010. The fourth ship is under construction at the Karachi Shipyard under transfer-of-technology arrangements, and will be completed by 2013.
The F-22P frigate is a Sword Class Ship, capable of surviving in a multi-threat environment. The ship is fitted with long-range surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and latest automatic 76mm guns. In a multi-threat environment, the ship is capable of delivering torpedoes and depth charges and also caries Z9EC helicopters. It is also equipped with advance command and control, electronic warfare systems, and a hi-tech air defence system (CIWS). The platform is fitted with long-range surface and air surveillance radars and a long-range SONAR. The frigate is 123 meters long and has a displacement of 3000 tonnes.
The ship will be formally inducted in the PN fleet in the first half of next month.
PNs second F-22P frigate arrives from China