According to an interview published by Global Times on February 4, 2021, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy (PN) Admiral M Amjad Khan Niazi (Adm. Niazi) confirmed modernization of the Pak Navy with the future acquisition of Chinese warships and height Hangor-class submarines.
Pakistan will acquire four modern frigates and eight submarines from its close ally China as part of the efforts to modernise Pakistan Navy and add to its offensive capabilities, its chief has said.
The Pakistan Navy has contracted the construction of four Type 054A/P frigates from China since 2017, and the first ship was launched in August 2020.
The Type 054A/P is powered by a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system including four Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC diesel, each developing 5700 kW. The ship can reach a top speed of 27 knots with an estimated cruising range of 8,025 nautical miles (14,862 km). The ship has a crew of 165 people.
The Type 054A/P is equipped with specific equipment and armament requested by the Pakistani Navy including SR2410C phased radar and 32-cell Vertical Launching System (VLS) able to launch the export version of the YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missiles.
Other armaments of the Type 054A/P include eight C-803 anti-ship / land-attack cruise missiles, one PJ26 76 mm dual-purpose naval gun, two Type 730 7-barrel 30 mm CIWS guns or Type 1130, six 324mm Yu-7 ASW torpedo launchers, two Type 87 240mm anti-submarine rocket launcher (36 rockets carried) and two Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launchers.