Thanks for the reply, so is the type 54A the best frigate in the chinese inventory or are there other options for PN?
Type 054A is currently the best frigate in Chineses navy, it is designed for long endurance open ocean operation. Whether it is the best option for Pakistan Navy or not depends on the needs and doctrine of PN. First, does PN need a ship for open ocean operations? From an outsider's view, I think PN's top priority is (1) to prevent blockade of Pakistan's ports and shipping lanes in times of war. (2) To prevent enemy's aircraft carrier group attacking from the sea.
A large number of submarines is a good idea. However, submarines can be attacked by anti-sub patrol aircrafts like P-8, and enemy surface ships. Frigates can be a very effective protector of submarines with its air defence and anti-surface and anti-sub weapons. Submarines working with frigates is like a shield and spear.
Type 054A fits in very well as it has a 70km range air defence missile as well as anti-submarine helicopter, torpedo and torpedo missile (YU-7). YU-7 is a missile that carry a torpedo as payload, variable depth towed sonar and rocket launched depth charges, it can carry anti-ship missile which has 190km range.
Below is from Wikipedia, I don't guarantee it is 100% accurate, but you get the broad view on its capabilities.
Displacement: 4,053 tonnes (full) (CCTV report)
Length: 134.1 m (440 ft) (CCTV report)
Beam: 16 m (52 ft) (CCTV report)
Propulsion:
CODAD, 4 x
Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC diesels, 5700 kW (7600+ hp @ 1084 rpm) each
Speed: 27
knots estimated
Range: 8,025 nautical miles (9,235 mi; 14,862 km) estimated
Complement: 165
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
Armament:
- 1 × 32-cell VLS
- 2 × 4 C-803 anti-ship / land attack cruise missiles
- 1 × PJ26 76 mm dual purpose gun
- 2 × Type 730 7-barrel 30 mm CIWS guns or Type 1130
- 2 × 3 324mm Yu-7 ASW torpedo launchers
- 2 × 6 Type 87 240mm anti-submarine rocket launcher (36 rockets carried)
- 2 × Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launchers
Aircraft carried: 1
Kamov Ka-28 'Helix' or
Harbin Z-9C