Commissioning Ceremony of PNS TUGHRIL Frigate held in Shanghai

By
Falak Naz
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397

Shanghai, 9 November (TDI): The Pakistan Navy commissioned PNS TUGHRIL (Type 054 CLASS A/P) Frigate in a historic ceremony in Shanghai, China. Ambassador of Pakistan to China, Moin ul Haq graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

Du Gang Vice Party Secretary and Member of the Board of CSSC, Rear Admiral Liuzhigang Commander of the PLAN Shanghai Naval Base attended the ceremony.

Ambassador Moin ul Haq along with Du Gang Vice Party Secretary and Member of the Board of CSSC, Rear Admiral Liuzhigang Commander of the PLAN Shanghai Naval Base and other officials attended the commissioning ceremony of PNS TUGHRIL Frigate.

The frigate is the largest and most advanced warship China has ever exported, CSSC said.

In a step that symbolises the two nations’ goodwill and will contribute to their all-weather strategic cooperative cooperation, China has delivered to Pakistan the largest and most modern warship the country has ever exported.

The vessel’s completion and delivery is yet another key milestone in China-Pakistan friendship, and it will strengthen the two countries’ all-weather strategic cooperation partnership, according to the Chinese shipbuilding business.

The vessel is a technologically advanced and capable platform with significant surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, and undersea weaponry, as well as considerable observation capabilities.

The Type 054A/P frigate can simultaneously execute a number of naval warfare operations in a highly intense multi-threat environment. It is equipped with state-of-the-art battle management and an electronic warfare system, as well as advanced self-defense capabilities.

According to a statement from the Pakistan Navy, the commissioning of the PNS Tughril ushers in a new chapter in Pakistan-China friendship, which has evolved over time and remained strong in all sectors.

Tughril-class frigates will strengthen Pakistan Navy’s capabilities to respond to maritime challenges to ensure seaward defence, maintain peace, stability, and balance of power in the Indian Ocean region, according to the ambassador, who also praised China’s concerted efforts for the landmark achievement of the timely delivery of the well-equipped despite the global pandemic, and a proficient frigate.

Vice Party Secretary and Director of the Board at CSSC Du Gang praised the timely completion of PNS Tughril, emphasising that the ship’s commissioning is a major milestone and testament to China-long-standing Pakistan’s friendship, as both countries are united by a bond of trust, compassion, and shared values.

According to Commodore Rashid Mehmood Sheikh, the head of the Pakistan Navy Mission overseeing construction of the 054A/P frigate, the PNS Tughril, as a multi-mission capable frigate, will form the mainstay of the Pakistan Navy fleet while bolstering the Pakistan Navy’s maritime defence capabilities.

The frigate’s delivery also marks a turning point in the expansion of Chinese boats’ influence as goods and their competitiveness in the worldwide market, according to CSSC.
Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the PLA Naval Research Academy, said that the Type 054A, on which the Type 054A/P is based, is China’s most advanced frigate.

The new ship has superior air defence capacity than previous Chinese frigates, thanks to an enhanced radar system and a higher number of missiles with longer ranges, according to Zhang, who also noted that the Type 054A frigate has world-class stealth capability.