Article Posted on : - Dec 10, 2009

The first F-22 frigate arrived in Pakistan from China in September, 2009.

ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan will start building the first indigenous version of the F-22P frigate, being developed with Chinese technology assistance, at a shipyard in Karachi from Thursday.

Work on the warship will begin at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, a statement from the navy said.

Pakistan had received the first of the three F-22P frigates ordered from China in September.

The vessel to be built in Karachi will be the fourth of a series of frigates being constructed in collaboration with China under a transfer of technology agreement.

The statement described the indigenous construction of a frigate as “another significant milestone towards self-reliance in defence production.”

The frigates are armed with ship-to-ship and ship-to-air missiles.

Pakistan is expected to receive the two other vessels ordered from China by the end of 2010.

China will also supply four to six Harbin Z9EC anti-submarine warfare helicopters to be used with these frigates.