Pakistan to strengthen naval defence with its first frigate-sized warship

Pakistan’s naval forces are set to strengthen their maritime capabilities with the construction of the country’s first indigenously designed frigate-sized warships, named the 'Jinnah Class Frigates'.

This move comes in response to the growing multi-threat maritime environment in the region, according to Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

Speaking in an interview, Admiral Ashraf outlined that the 'Jinnah Class Frigates' will be designed to address the full spectrum of modern naval threats, including surface warfare, anti-submarine operations, and air defence.

These multi-role ships, typically between 100 and 150 meters in length and weighing 2,000-4,000 tons, are equipped with a range of weaponry, including guns, missiles, torpedoes, and anti-submarine rockets.

"We are building our first-ever indigenously designed and built frigate-sized warship, based on the lessons learned from the construction of MILGEM Class Ships," Admiral Ashraf said.

"The Jinnah Class Frigates will be a significant step towards reducing Pakistan’s reliance on foreign sources for advanced naval platforms," he added.

Pakistan has been focused on modernising its naval fleet and enhancing operational readiness. Recent additions include the advanced PNS Babur and PNS Hunain, two state-of-the-art vessels designed to address both surface and air threats.

The navy has also inducted Type 054 A/P frigates from China, offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) from Romania, and the MILGEM Class Corvette from Turkey, with plans to induct more of these advanced ships into the fleet in the coming years.

Admiral Ashraf highlighted the role of indigenisation in the Pakistan Navy’s development strategy. "We are prioritising the acquisition of force multipliers and indigenously developed technical solutions to enhance our combat readiness and create a balanced, potent force," he added.

Two of the MILGEM class ships are currently under construction at Pakistan’s Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW).

The navy’s future strategy focuses on a "progressive capability enhancement" model, which aims to create a balanced, flexible, and combat-ready fleet capable of responding to evolving maritime threats.