Chinese Type 054AP stealth frigates for Pakistan

China is building four Type 054AP stealth frigates for its “allweather ally” Pakistan, as part of the major bilateral arms agreement between the two countries. Equipped with modern detection and weapon systems, these are equipped for anti-ship, antisubmarine and air-defence operations and are being constructed at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyards in Shanghai. This class of Chinese multirole frigates (NATO codename Jiangkai II) first entered service

with the People’s Liberation Army Navy Surface Force in 2007 and are equipped with HQ-16 medium-range air defence missiles plus various anti submarine rockets in a VLS system, sited between the two rows of rectangular launching tubes and also capable of firing anti-submarine rockets.