TUGHRIL class

 4 GUIDED MISSILE FRIGATES (FFG) (Chinese JIANGKAI-II design)
 Name         Pendant No.     Launched         Commissioned       Status
 TUGHRIL      F-261           Aug 22, 2020     Jan. 24, 2022      Active
 TAIMUR       F-262           Jan. 29, 2021    June 23, 2022      Active
 TIPPU SULTAN F-263           Aug. 3, 2021     May 10, 2023       Active
 SHAH JAHAN   F-264           Dec. 23, 2021    May 10, 2023       Active

The TUGHRIL class of multirole frigates are among the most advanced and modern surface vessels in the Pakistani navy. Constructed in China, these ships are built on JIANGKAI II-class (Type 054A) frigate design with several modifications. These ships are designed for air defense and anti-surface strikes.

HULL: The ships exterior build is based on the Chinese JIANGKAI-II design. At full load, these ships displace 4,630 tons. Each ship measures 439 ft 8 in (134.0 m) long, with 52-ft 6-in (16.0-m) beams and drafts of 16 ft 5 in (5.0 m). A single-spot flight deck and helicopter hangar are situated aft.
The full crew complement is 165.

ENGINEERING: The class features a Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) engine arrangement. Four Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC diesel engines, each producing 7,644 bhp, provide a total of 30,576 bhp.
The frigates can attain a top speed of 27 knots, and reach a maximum range of 8,025 nm (14,860 km).

ARMAMENT: The ships’ aft hangar and landing spot can accommodate a single Z-9C Harbin helicopter. 32 H/AJ-16 vertical launch cells, configured into four 8-cell units are loaded with LY-80N medium-range, surface-to-air missiles (SAM), the naval export variant of China’s HQ-16 missile. A pair of two-cell launchers are installed for firing CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missiles, the export variant of the Chinese YJ-12A missile.
A 76-mm H/PJ-26 dual purpose naval gun is positioned forward. The ship’s two 11-barreled Type 1130 systems provide close-in protection.
The ship’s two triple 324-mm torpedo tubes are equipped with an unknown number of Yu-7 lightweight torpedoes. Two Type 87 anti-submarine rocket launchers are also fitted.

SENSORS/ELECTRONICS: Unlike the Chinese JIANGKAI II which incorporates a Type 382 radar, the TUGHRIL class is fitted with an SR2401C active electronically scanned array radar. A Type 517 is responsible for air search. Two Racal-Decca RM-1290 radars are used for navigation. An MR-36A surveillance radar is also installed. A Type 344 fire control radar is responsible for directing the CM-302 missiles. Four onboard MR-90 (Front Dome) target illuminators are associated with the LY-80N SAM missiles. A single Type 347G radar provides fire control for the H/PJ-26 dual purpose gun.
The ship’s primary sonar is an MGK-335 medium frequency, active/passive system. An H/SJG-206 towed array sonar is also fitted.
Two 18-tube Type 726-4 decoy launchers are equipped as an anti-torpedo/anti-missile countermeasure. The class has an HZ100 shipborne ECM/ELINT system installed, as well as a Type 922-1 radar warning intercept.

In service.

The TUGHRIL class was developed as part of the Pakistani navy’s modernization efforts, as the service sought to replace its fleet of aging TARIQ-class destroyers. Pakistan signed a contract in 2017 with the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) for the delivery of two frigates based on the existing Type 054A/JIANGKAI II class design. A contract for a further two ships were announced in June 2018. The ships were planned for delivery from 2021 onward.

Construction of the first of class, TUGHRIL, began in 2018. The ship was launched on Aug. 22, 2020, and began sea trials in May 2021. The TUGHRIL was received on Nov. 8, 2021 and commissioned into service on Jan. 24, 2022.

Steel was cut on the second ship, TAIMUR on Dec. 19, 2018. The ship first touched water on Jan. 29, 2021. TAIMUR was commissioned at a ceremony in Shanghai on June 23, 2022.

The final two ships TIPPU SULTAN and SHAH JAHAN had their keels laid down at a ceremony on Nov. 1, 2019. TIPPU SULTAN was launched on Aug. 3, 2021. The last on order, SHAH JAHAN launched on Dec. 23, 2021. CSIC handed over both ships to the Pakistani navy at a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai on May 10, 2023. The ships received a secondary commissioning ceremony upon their arrival at the Pakistan Navy dockyards in Karachi in July 2023.

India’s SP’s Land Forces publication reported that all four of the frigates had been integrated into the Pakistani fleet by July 20, 2023.

Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard, Shanghai, China

 CREW
   Total                   165

 DISPLACEMENT
   Full load               4,630 tons

 DIMENSIONS
   Length                  439 ft 8 in (134.0 m) 
   Beam                     52 ft 6 in ( 16.0 m)
   Draft                    16 ft 5 in (  5.0 m)

PROPULSION
   Main                    CODAD:
                           4 x Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC diesels
      power                7,644 bhp each; 30,576 total bhp

PERFORMANCE
   Speed                   27 knots
   Range                   8,025 nm (14,860 km)

COMBAT SYSTEMS
   Helicopter              1 x Z-9C Harbin
   Missiles                4 x 8-cell H/AJK-16 VLS (vertical launch system) [LY-80N SAM missiles carried]
                           2 x 2-cell CM-302 (YJ-12A) anti-ship missile launchers [4 CM-302 (YJ-12A) missiles carried]
   Guns                    1 x 76-mm H/PJ-26 DP
                           2 x Type 1130 CIWS
   Torpedo tubes           2 x triple 324-mm tubes [Yu-7 lightweight torpedoes]
   ASW Weapons             2 x Type 87 ASW rocket launchers
   Radars                  1 x SR2410C AESA
                           1 x Type 517 air search
                           1 x MR-36A surveillance
                           2 x Racal-Decca RM-1290 navigation
   Fire Control            1 x Type 344 for CM-302
                           4 x MR-90 (Front Dome) for LY-80N
                           1 x Type 347G for H/PJ-26 gun
   Sonar                   1 x MGK-335 medium-frequency
                           1 x H/SJG-206 towed array
   EW                      2 x 18-tube Type 726-4 decoy launchers
                           1 x Type 922-1 radar warning intercept
                           1 x HZ100 shipborne ECM/ELINT system

The Chinese and Pakistani navies conducted their Sea Guardian 2023 joint maritime exercise in Arabian Sea in November 2023, involving the SHAH JAHAN as a participant from the Pakistani contingent. The exercises included visiting, boarding and searching procedures, air-defense communication and joint anti-submarine operations aimed at enhancing shared operational capabilities.

The cost of the four frigates was not publicly disclosed.

The Chinese export designation is Type 054A/P.