China to soon start production of F-22P frigates for Pakistan

Beijing, May 22 (UNI) China will start construction of four advanced F-22P frigates for Pakistan later this year, with the first to be delivered to Islamabad in 2008.

Expressing complete satisfaction over the deal, Pakistan's Navy Chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir said the deal also envisaged transfer of technology to his country, so it could begin indigenous construction of the warship.

The construction of the frigates, equipped with organic helicopters specially designed for anti-submarine warfare, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles along with numerous associated self-defense systems, will start at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai this year. The first frigate will be delivered to Pakistan in 2008 and the other three by 2013.

''Signing of the contract, worth 600 million dollars is yet another milestone in the ever-increasing bilateral relations between the two countries in maritime sector,'' Admiral Tahir said, adding that this is for the first time that the navies of the two countries had achieved a high-level of collaboration to augment their surface fleets.

The Navy Chief said that the project also reflects the keen interest taken by senior political leaders to further deepen their defence ties.

To a question, he said China made marvellous progress in the defence production sector in the recent years and the quality of their products are meeting international standards.

Admiral Tahir said that during his stay in Beijing he had very productive meetings with Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan, Vice Minister of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (COSTIND) Jin Zhuang Long and Admiral Hu Yanlin. He had also an opportunity to visit Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai and naval installations in Qingdao.

He said that interaction between the two navies had been excellent over the years. ''We have very productive cooperation in training and technical matters and development of naval platforms,'' he added.

About the joint exercises, the naval chief said up till now, they had two exercises with the PLA's navy, one in Chinese waters near Shanghai and other off Pakistan.

''The scope of these exercises in the future will definitely be widened,''Admiral Tahir said, adding that the date of the next naval exercise has not been fixed.

''But, I am sure it will take place soon,'' he added.

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