Pakistan’s naval modernisation programme hits the skids

[Adios Amigo]

Pakistan’s naval modernisation programme hits the skids

Usman Ansari

Friday, March 5, 2010


Well, it’s been a long time since we learnt that Pakistan was seeking to modernise its navy with a whole range of new platforms. Way back in 2006 in fact when I interviewed the then naval chief, Admiral Afzal Tahir, I asked him about some of the intended programmes.



To sum up all the naval platform programmes that we know of:



- Transfer of Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigates from the US

- A new class of submarines (HDW Type-214)

- A joint Pakistan-Turkish corvette programme

- The F-22P/Sword Class frigate programme

- A follow on from the F-22P Class (Type-051A Jiangkai-II Class frigate or variant thereof, OR a German design)

- Expansion of national shipbuilding capabilities by opening of new facilities in Gwadar and Omara



Well, the first OHP Class frigate, USS McInerny (FFG-8), will be the subject of a ‘hot transfer’ when it is decommissioned from USN service in August, and after refurbishment is due to arrive in Pakistan around December this year. With it’s Mk-13 ‘One Armed Bandit’ missile launcher having been removed, (as in all USN OHP Class frigates), it is, at present, little more than a glorified gunboat. I’m not sure what the refurbishment will include, but considering the upgrades other operators of the class have undertaken, like Australia and Turkey, there is still life left in what is a very robust design.



The PN however still requires/desires six of the class. Whether this will happen and under what timeframe is open to debate. We’ve known about the transfer of McInerny now for about two years. If we consider that this how long the process takes, well, then that there has been no further OHP Class frigate which has been named as being slated for transfer is indicative of the fact Pakistan may face quite a wait. The USN after all needs the remaining OHP Class frigates for itself. Not being a charity organisation, it considers its own needs first and foremost. So it looks like Pakistan is in for a wait.



The F-22P/Sword Class frigate programme is on track however, and all four ships in the class are likely to be delivered on time. This, and obtaining any further OHP Class frigates, is due to two very important reasons. The Chinese, as ever, have been generous and offered Pakistan very liberal credit facilities to obtain the F-22P Class frigates. The Americans on the other hand, are transferring the OHP Class frigates free of cost under a Foreign Military Sales programme to a Major Non-NATO Ally. So at least two of Pakistan’s modernisation programmes are making progress, and the reason for that is because Pakistan either isn’t paying, or only needs to pay later.



This is a big clue as to the non-movement of the other projects in the modernisation programme if you haven’t already spotted it, cash. Pakistan is broke, and the government is simply too busy mismanaging the economy and lining its own pockets, (or at best looking after its own interests) to care. Don’t get too excited about the ‘opposition’ either. They’re too busy doing the same, planning to do the same, or pilfering electricity at ‘anti-corruption’ rallies.



The Pakistan-Turkish corvette programme was supposed to involve a purpose designed corvette and deep transfer of technology to allow Pakistan to build the corvettes indigenously. The corvettes themselves would not have been the Milgem/Ada Class corvettes being constructed for the Turkish navy as has been speculated, but based on the Milgem design. A key aspect of the deal was to maximise the role and involvement of the private sector in line with, and based on the experience of, the Turkish model in defence procurement and planning. After IDEAS2008 the three member Turkish conglomerate behind the design presented it to the PN for approval, and by Summer 2009 negotiations were supposed to start in earnest leading to an agreement. What ever happened in Summer 2009, there has been no agreement, and currently the status of the programme is unknown. If it isn’t floating face down dead in the water, it’s in deep freeze.



Likewise the next generation submarine programme. The HDW Type-214 SSK was selected as suitable for the PN’s needs, and approval for a deal sought from the government. This was the status in 2008. At IDEAS2008 the Chief Executive of HDW, Walter Freitag, told me that they had hoped to sign a deal by the end of that year, but due to unforeseen circumstances, that hadn’t happened. By Summer 2009, a deal was expected to be signed between Pakistan and HDW, whereupon approval for the sale of three Type-214 submarines would be sought from the German federal government after the German general elections in September 2009. The government was said to be favourably disposed to the idea, despite some ill informed and prejudiced ramblings from the Green Party.



By December however there had been no further developments, and after a trip to China by the current PN CNS, Admiral Noman Bashir, we started to hear talk about submarine co-operation with the Chinese. It appears that the PN is now re-evaluating the selection of the Type-214, in relation to a Chinese design thought to be the Type-041A Yuan Class SSK. What would make Pakistan choose to start looking at an unproven design from a nation still struggling to catch up with every other submarine design and manufacturing nation? Cash, or lack of.



Yes, that’s right folks! Pakistan is broke, so the hoped for flotilla of up to 15 submarines is may take longer than hoped. The two Agosta-70 submarines that are to be replaced by the initial batch of new submarines will not last forever, but it seems they will have to soldier on. The selection of the Type-214 was supposed to allow for a greater level of ‘deep’ co-operation with Turkey due to both operating the same design. This is something which has been long neglected as I have mentioned previously, (on account of Pakistan being conned into buying dud French subs).



So the corvette deal is probably dead, the submarine programme is on life support, and unless the Chinese are feeling extra generous there won’t be a follow on from the F-22P any time soon either. That means the expansion of naval construction facilities isn’t going to be happening any time soon either. Especially when the government refuses to comprehensively tackle the Balochi feudal land lords who are destabilising Balochistan, (with their nonsensical claims of being ‘oppressed’ – considering they stand to lose control of their serfs if any large scale development, education, or proper democratic reforms are enacted their barking is a tad rich).



We’ll see what happens I guess, but without the economic situation of Pakistan improving, the safety and territorial integrity of the state is imperilled. This criminally inept government is destroying the security of the state along with everything else it can lay its hands on. For this to change however, we would need Pakistanis themselves to actually engage the brain cells they have and vote for change. Considering Pakistanis seem to be wilfully incapable of such a thing and are collectively stupid on an unimaginable scale, I won’t be holding my breath.


Usman Ansari

 

[Dark Angel]

i think it is abt time that navy should be a little more prioritized

 

[BATMAN]

Transfer of Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigates from the US

Pak Navy to acquire 30 year old US frigate for 78 million dollars
Pakistan News.Net
Friday 5th March, 2010 (ANI)

The Pakistan Navy is set to acquire a 30 year old Oliver Perry class frigate, USS McInerney, from the United States at a whopping cost of about 78 million dollars.

The three decade old frigate, which was put on the US Navy's inactivation list in September last year, is likely to start its journey to the Karachi port by the end of 2010.

It is worth mentioning here that Islamabad is negotiating with Washington for five more Oliver Perry class frigates.

Sources in the Pakistan Navy said that the frigate is actually a gift from the US and will fly the Pakistani flag as cost-efficient "hot-transfer". However, the US Defence Security Department through a notification to the Congress had clarified that the frigate along with its equipments, parts and logistical support will be worth at least 78 millions dollars.

USS McInerney is equipped with anti-submarine missile defence system, surface-to-surface missiles, and with helicopter deck landing facilities, The Dawn reports. (ANI)

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

No need to narrow down our vision or say the glass is half empty

We just started to get our goods for navy , keep watching what happens next

 

[ameer219]

I am still lost, is the U-214 deal called off?

But yeah, Like Gabbar said, we should be optimistic.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

I am still lost, is the U-214 deal called off?

But yeah, Like Gabbar said, we should be optimistic.

Well we have almost doubled our ships once we get the US decomissioned ships + next wave of chinese ships

The subs deal is surely hit a hurdle but I am sure we will get that resolved its important we get it done this year

 

[fatman17]

^whatever usman ansari (UA) says shd be taken with a grain of salt.

PN expansion plans may have 'slowed' a bit like the other arms for example the PA is ordering Al-Khalid in SBP (small batch production) which stalls the eventual requirement of 1,200 MBTs of the type (~250 inducted) instead of one large order which will require large outlays. this free's funds for other projects. likewise, the PAF's JF-17 plan of 150 a/c could take a little longer than originally planned, because of the same reasons aforementioned. this in no way states that nothing is going on or the plans have hit 'the skids' as assumed by UA.

both the US and China are going out-of-their-way to 'ease' the funds gap by providing FMS and 'low-interest loans' respectively.

Pakistan's economy cannot get any worse than it is - it will improve esp the robust agri-sector which is forecasted to grow by 5-6% this year and if the manufacturing side can improve on its past performance, then funds are likely to be made available for our 'legitimate defence needs'. we have made great progress on the WoT as the militants are on the run and one last sustained effort by the armed forces is required to completely break their backs.

follow-on order for frigates from the chinese will commence once the US700m loan is paid-off (the chinese may be our friends but they are businessmen first).

the avionics/missile/radar deal with the french will require 'upfront' money and i am sure this will be arranged keeping in view the importance of the project.

the US will transfer OHPs @ of 1/year which will replace the type-21s in PN inventory. upgrading @ US80m/year with FMS should not be a major hassle to arrange. I consider this as not a major priority.

the upgrade of the F-16s is underway, and the way the PAF has successfully 'operated' the type in the WoT will easily clear any mis-givings of the US congress and FMS funds will flow for this project.

the new F-16s blk 52s are underway along with the AIM-120C5 BVRs and the latest targeting pods being paid by our own funds and monies have been set aside.

so all is not lost as the 'doom and gloom' predicted by our intrepid UA.

 

[fatman17]

.....one more point - i have not heard much abt the german sub deal (i must admit) - but i am quite sure the french would be happy to replace the german order with a better price for the agosta 90Bs.

 

[satishkumarcsc]

.....one more point - i have not heard much abt the german sub deal (i must admit) - but i am quite sure the french would be happy to replace the german order with a better price for the agosta 90Bs.

Sir, why go for more Agostas when u can get Marlins?

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

PN isnt going to buy agosta fatman just gave his opinon.....late aiey per durust aiey

 

[SAUD-404]

that a bit strange there isn't any indiginous ptojects, will any brother be able to explain why?

 

[fatman17]

that a bit strange there isn't any indiginous ptojects, will any brother be able to explain why?

Al Khalid
JF-17

are considered in-digeneous - we r talking big ticket items

 

[SAUD-404]

I ment any navel project.

 

[fatman17]

I ment any navel project.

the 4th F-22P will be built at KSEW locally with ToT and the 3rd Agosta 90B was built locally however there are no future plans as we know. so building know-how and training has been imparted so far.

 

[Super Falcon]

wellll i dont know what is pn is upto they dident signed any deal tilll 2006 where is money going of 4 years welll it is out of mind nothing is going on even they said they want to buy H 2 haweye for navy but after that interview it went on flush i dont know what is a probleum with naval leadership our navy is weaker than bengladesh navy seems like that