May-2010
INTERVIEW
Captain Mirza Foad Amin Baig
Commanding Officer, PNS Zulfiqar
The first of Pakistan's four Sword-class frigates, PNS Zulfiqar, is preparing for a final sea inspection later in 2010 before being declared fully operational. Capt.Baig spoke to Guy Tormens when the ship visited Doha, Qatar.
Launched by China State Shipbuilding Corporation at its Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai on 19th April 2008, PNS Zulfiqar - the first of Pakistan Navy's (PN's) four Sword-class (F-22P) frigates - was commissioned on 30th July 2009.
Having completed the technical acceptance process followed by pier-side and at-sea training, the ship's company commenced a delivery voyage that took Zulfiqar to Manado for Indonesia's International Fleet Review (12-19 August), Port Kalang in Malaysia (27-30 August) and Colombo, Sri Lanka (5-7 Sept). The frigate arrived in Karachi on 13 September and was inducted into the PN fleet on 19 September.
"the remainder 0f 2009 and early 2010 was taken up by testing our sensors and weapons in home waters" says Capt. Mirza Foad Amin Baig, the Commanding Officer."in early March we sailed from Karachi for a deployment to the Arabian Gulf, before taking part in DIMDEX 2010 (The 2nd Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition in Qatar, we successfully fired C-802 missiles in the Northern Arabian sea on 12 March, and on our way to Doha we conducted passex serials with both the Saudi navy and the Qatari naval forces.
Despite its strong visual resemblances to the Chinese navy's Jiangwei II-class (Type 053H3) frigates, Capt. Baig says the 3,144-ton Zulfiqar and its sister ships were designed to specific Pakistani requirements and incorporate many features hiitherto unknown in PN vessels. " most obvious are the radar cross-section reduction measures, clearly visible in the hull, main gun and the slightly angling superstructure". he notes." A lot of effort was also put into infrared signature, noise and electro-magnetic emission reduction. She is also the first major surface combatant of the PN to have a high level of automation on board".
A integrated platform management system controls the engines, hull services, electrical distribution and damage-control systems,"Zulfiqar has been fitted with a sophisticated German MTU damage-control system. Automatic detectors and sensor systems ensure an early warning for any damage occuring in any operational situation" says Capt.Baig. "Buoyancy is assured with two adjacent compartments flooded and a sprinkler system is fitted throughout the ship. these enhanced damage-control capabilities and the in-built redundency are important factors for unsupported long-distance crossings".Designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and ant-surface warfare (ASuW), Zulfiqar also has a local area self-defense capability."I dare say that a Sword-class unit packs almost the combined fire-power of our six Tariq-class (Ex-UK RN Amazon-class (Type-21)) frigates. We feature quite a few capabilities not found on the pther Pakistani frigates".
The ASuW suite consists of two quadruple C-802 launchers (CSS-N-8'Saccade') and a 76mm gun based on the Russian AK-176M weapon. ASW assets comprise two triple ET-52C 324mm torpedo tubes, two sextuple RDC-32 rocket launchers and an Echo Type 5 hull-mounted active search and track sonar. An octuple launcher for FM-90N anti-air missiles is located forward of the bridge and two Type 730 30mm seven-barrel guns are provided for close-in defence (CIWS).
"The embarked Harbin Z-9EC helicopter provides us with over-the-horizon targeting for the C-802 missiles as well as a long-range detection capability and anti-submarine capability",Capt.Baig states."Our combat management suite is based on the chinese ZKJ-3C (a variant of the French TAVITAC) and the electronic-warfare system comprises the Chinese RWD-8 intercept system and a NJ8I-3 jammer".Sensors include a SUR-17 air-surveillence radar, an SR-60 air/surface search radar and a Kelvin-Hughes 2007 navigation radar.
While accepting that the integration of Chinese and Western systems was challenging, Capt.Baig says the package works well in practice and that Zulfiqar has considerable potential for future upgrade; for example, there is a space to install a vertical launch system in place of the FM-90N launcher. he anticipates that a forthcoming modernisation will see the FM-90N and SUR-17 combination replaced by the Chinese HQ-16 (a variant of the Russian SA-N-12 Shril).
Capt.Baig is pleased with the seaworthiness of the 123.4 m-long hull which, he says is "shaped to minimize the resistence of water and improve seakeeping in rough sea conditions. Two rudders and two controlable pitch propellers allow excellent manoeuvarability. We can conduct our tasks up to Sea State 5. Our CODAD (combined diesel and diesel) propulsion system (two Tognum MTU 12V 1163 TB 83 diesel engines) gives us a top speed of 28+ kt and the onboard fuel capacity provides a steaming range in excess of 6,000 n miles at 18 kt".
Compared with older vessels, crew habitability standards have been improved and noise kept to a minimum while air-conditioning has been installed in accomodation and operating compartments. Capt. Baig says"the core crew is 188, but we have a capacity for 212 and for short periods even up to 250".
Further weapons and sensor trials are planned before the frigate undergoes a final sea inspection later in 2010 and - all being well - is declared fully operational."one may well see PNS Zulfiqar taking part in anti-piracy operations in 2011".
The second Sword-class frigate, PNS Shamsheer, was commissioned in Shanghai on 19 December 2009, arrived in Karachi on 23 January 2010 (after stops in Singapore and Colombo) and was admitted into the Pakistani fleet on 8 Feburary. Ship three, Saif, is scheduled to commission on 31 July. The keel of the final unit, Aslat, was laid down on 10 December 2009 at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works and scheduled to join the fleet in December 2013.
