![]() The Type 21s will now undergo decommissioning. Tom Waldwyn, a naval expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the Type 054A/P ships “will be a considerable improvement … particularly in terms of capability” over the 1970s-era ex-British Type 21 frigates that Pakistan acquired in the 1990s. Pakistan’s four F-22P Zulfiquar (Type 053H3-derivative) frigates are incapable of dealing with modern missile threats, but might receive upgrades with the fielding of the Type-054A/Ps. Pakistan has experienced a capability gap since its lease ran out with the United States for four American Brooke-class frigates in 1994. ![]() The Type 054A/P also carries HHQ-16 medium-range air defense missiles that provide an area defense capability. Highlighting the flexibility of the Type 054A/P, Fisher said the Tughril is the “first Chinese export warship to feature a 32-cell vertical launch system that can be armed with an array of anti-aircraft missiles, ship and land-attack cruise missiles and anti-submarine missiles, as they are on PLA Navy Type 054A frigates.” ![]() ![]() ![]() The CM-401 is a short-range ballistic missile that can maneuver to avoid interception and can allegedly travel at Mach 6. “Imagery revealed during the commissioning of Tughril confirms that the ‘P282′ is the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) CM-401 hypersonic-speed capable anti-ship ballistic missile,” Fisher said. ![]()
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