Quwa
Research Partner
- Joined
- May 16, 2006
- Messages
- 2,538
- Reaction score
- 47
- Country
- Location
I guess it all started back in 2004 during the IDEAS event when the Pakistan Navy Chief at the time said that the PN sought at least 4 new frigates in addition to the F-22P - if you call F-22P a frigate. He said the PN was looking at something of heavier displacement and superior capability to the F-22P. Back then many of us thought the PN would go for used Type-23 or some other used frigate.
Well Chile bought the Type-23s available at the time and there were no plans to procure the M-Class from the Netherlands, and the S-Class purchase from Greece did not go through. Eventually it turned out that the PN choose to procure 4 new built corvettes instead of used frigates, and as of now the Turkish Milgem seems to have been chosen.
Recently Kanwa reported that the PN was interested in the Type-054 frigate from China. While it may seem a given that the PN would procure new frigates from China, other variables have entered into the fray. First of the fact that DCN and HDW displayed their frigate designs at IDEAS 2006 - that may not suggest much, but remember things like the P-3 Hawkeye 2000 were also displayed, before PN interest became apparent. The SSK requirement puts DCN and HDW on the forefront as well, and Pakistan may look to tie in multiple requirements towards one supplier in attempt to reduce cost or get a good offset agreement.
The Type-054 FFG is in the 3500-4000 ton displacement range, and so would the DCN La Fayette and HDW MEKO A-200 and Delta. Although the European ones are more expensive, they do have better ASW capabilities than their Chinese counterparts. The site Deagel reports that the MEKO Delta has been designed as a multi-role frigate suitable for modern navies. Given Pakistan's resources but necessities, it may find that a multi-role frigate with full AAW, ASW, ASuW, special operations and apparently land attack capability a good proposition. I think a reasonable estimate of the MEKO D's unit cost would be $350 to $400mn USD per ship, possibly higher.
Although expensive, 4 MEKO D would considerably enhance the PN. I imagine the AAW system would consist of 32? Sylver-43 VLS for Aster 15 SAAM. The ASW could be equipped with either Harpoon Block II or Exocet MM40 Block III. ASuW would be covered with the MU-90 Impact, or maybe the PN may go the Milas Anti-Submarine Missile route? I am just uncertain on how land attack would go onto this ship, the Polyphem land attack missile project was canceled. I think a surface-ship launch version of IDAS could be developed, but that would be limited to near-by coastal targets. The PN is going to negotiate with Turkey for the Milgem, we may ask for the Rolling Airframe Missile system from the U.S and Germany for use on the corvettes - this could be extended for frigate use as well.
If that is too expensive, then the PN could tone it down with the MEKO A-200 similar to South African versions. That would be 16 VLS for Aster 15 SAAM; 8 Harpoon or Exocet; ASW with 4 torpedo launchers for MU-90 or Milas launch containers. This version should not cost PN more than $350mn USD per ship IMO. However given that the Singaporean Formidable Class has a displacement of 3200 tons and can carry the above except with 32 VLS for Aster 15 - I imagine same can be done on MEKO A-200?
Nonetheless, the PN should have (IMO) 4~6 frigates with at least 3500 ton displacement; 16-32+ VLS for a good SAM; 8 Harpoon or Exocet; 4+ torpedo launchers or anti-submarine missile launchers. Such a frigate would range from the La Fayette, MEKO Delta, MEKO A-200 and Type-054A - if latter is modified for better ASW combat. Supplemented by 2 heavier AAW command & control frigates with long-range SAMs like Aster 30 or HQ-9A.
Well Chile bought the Type-23s available at the time and there were no plans to procure the M-Class from the Netherlands, and the S-Class purchase from Greece did not go through. Eventually it turned out that the PN choose to procure 4 new built corvettes instead of used frigates, and as of now the Turkish Milgem seems to have been chosen.
Recently Kanwa reported that the PN was interested in the Type-054 frigate from China. While it may seem a given that the PN would procure new frigates from China, other variables have entered into the fray. First of the fact that DCN and HDW displayed their frigate designs at IDEAS 2006 - that may not suggest much, but remember things like the P-3 Hawkeye 2000 were also displayed, before PN interest became apparent. The SSK requirement puts DCN and HDW on the forefront as well, and Pakistan may look to tie in multiple requirements towards one supplier in attempt to reduce cost or get a good offset agreement.
The Type-054 FFG is in the 3500-4000 ton displacement range, and so would the DCN La Fayette and HDW MEKO A-200 and Delta. Although the European ones are more expensive, they do have better ASW capabilities than their Chinese counterparts. The site Deagel reports that the MEKO Delta has been designed as a multi-role frigate suitable for modern navies. Given Pakistan's resources but necessities, it may find that a multi-role frigate with full AAW, ASW, ASuW, special operations and apparently land attack capability a good proposition. I think a reasonable estimate of the MEKO D's unit cost would be $350 to $400mn USD per ship, possibly higher.
Although expensive, 4 MEKO D would considerably enhance the PN. I imagine the AAW system would consist of 32? Sylver-43 VLS for Aster 15 SAAM. The ASW could be equipped with either Harpoon Block II or Exocet MM40 Block III. ASuW would be covered with the MU-90 Impact, or maybe the PN may go the Milas Anti-Submarine Missile route? I am just uncertain on how land attack would go onto this ship, the Polyphem land attack missile project was canceled. I think a surface-ship launch version of IDAS could be developed, but that would be limited to near-by coastal targets. The PN is going to negotiate with Turkey for the Milgem, we may ask for the Rolling Airframe Missile system from the U.S and Germany for use on the corvettes - this could be extended for frigate use as well.
If that is too expensive, then the PN could tone it down with the MEKO A-200 similar to South African versions. That would be 16 VLS for Aster 15 SAAM; 8 Harpoon or Exocet; ASW with 4 torpedo launchers for MU-90 or Milas launch containers. This version should not cost PN more than $350mn USD per ship IMO. However given that the Singaporean Formidable Class has a displacement of 3200 tons and can carry the above except with 32 VLS for Aster 15 - I imagine same can be done on MEKO A-200?
Nonetheless, the PN should have (IMO) 4~6 frigates with at least 3500 ton displacement; 16-32+ VLS for a good SAM; 8 Harpoon or Exocet; 4+ torpedo launchers or anti-submarine missile launchers. Such a frigate would range from the La Fayette, MEKO Delta, MEKO A-200 and Type-054A - if latter is modified for better ASW combat. Supplemented by 2 heavier AAW command & control frigates with long-range SAMs like Aster 30 or HQ-9A.
