054/A FFG Thread II

[asif iqbal]

thats why i said it was a "rumour", but i do know that PN is evaluating a number of Chinese platforms which does include frigates more advanced than the F22P, historically PN has been based around british systems for its navy but now that is shifting towards Chinese systems, so i guess we will have to wait to see what developments take place over the next few months, China had the capacity to build 3 F22Ps (1 was built under ToT at Karachi dockyard) in breakneck speed so i dont think there would be any issue with accomodating more foreign orders

 

[plawolf]

No doubt about anything you said, it just seems a bit of a strange decision to go for the pair of 054s when the better solution for everyone involved would just be for Pakistan to get a pair of new built 054As with PN specific equipment and subsystems installed from the very start.

China has the 052C and HHQ9, so its not like the 054A and HQ16 would be the very best China can make and off limits. Especially if all the rumors of a 054A+ or 054B pan out to be true.

The only issue would be cost as the PN, like the PAF, is getting a lot of new platforms in so their funds must be a little under pressure, but China has always been willing to provide good financing deals, so we will just have to wait and see as you said.

 

[Lion]

The SAM of 054A looks huge..

 

[Blitzo]

Wow that's a great picture, never seen it before. Very clear shot of the HQ-16, nice.

 

[plawolf]

Great shot indeed!

For such a large missile, its range really is a little disappointing, especially when you consider the ranges of the likes of the SM2 and even the ESSM, which is considerably smaller.

 

[Martian]

Type 054A Jiangkai II frigate launching HQ-16 surface-to-air missile

[Note: Thank you to Lion for the picture and Bltizo for the caption.]

 

[no_name]

deleted: my mistake

 

[SinoSoldier]

Great shot indeed!

For such a large missile, its range really is a little disappointing, especially when you consider the ranges of the likes of the SM2 and even the ESSM, which is considerably smaller.

It at least means one thing; that the VLS deployed on the Type 054A would be able to accommodate larger missiles of such type, which would come useful when cruise missiles are added to the weapons inventory.

 

[Galrahn]

I am also pretty sure the PLAN would not allow one of their in-service frontline warships to be transfered to someone else, even Pakistan, as it is without some of the most sensitive equipment replaced with export models. Similarly, I am sure the PN would want the ships to have their own specialist equipment on board so the new ships can work with the rest of the PN's forces. I know China and Pakistan are close, but I doubt they have such a close working military relationship that warships from either country could just sail in and work seamlessly with all other assets of the host navy. All that means time in docks for a re-fit and costs.

I'm not so sure. China has a front row seat regarding the value of integrating technologies with partners - see the way AEGIS is expanding from Japan to South Korea and soon Australia and the Middle East.

From the perspective of streamlining logistics and modernization, giving the two 054s to Pakistan would make sense for both China (who is well into serial production of Type 054A) and Pakistan (054 uses similar technology as F-22P). One might also look at it favorably if one believes Pakistan and China will need to be more interoperable in Indian Ocean operations in the future (interchangable undersea replenishment compatability, for example).

The value of foreign military sales from a policy perspective cannot be understated. The more naval equipment Pakistan uses of Chinese origin, the better for China for a number of reasons.

I don't know if this will happen or not, but if it does I think it would demonstrate a very important evolution and maturing view China has on the political value of seapower.

 

[tphuang]

pictures of the 5th and 6th 054A from HD shipyard.