Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has held a steel-cutting ceremony for one of four Type 054A guided missile frigates ordered by the Pakistan Navy.
The vessel will have a length of 134.1 metres, a width of 16 metres, a displacement of 4,053 tonnes, and a range of 8,025 nautical miles. Four Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC 5,700kW diesel engines will give the frigate a maximum speed of 27 knots.
Upon delivery of the first vessel in 2021, Pakistan will become the first overseas operator of Type 054A frigates, 28 of which are in service with China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
