Pakistan to buy anti submarine helicopters and frigates

according to Pakistan daily The News:

‘Pakistan to sign frigate deal with China in June’

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Shahid Karimullah on Wednesday said Pakistan would sign a deal with China for supply of four frigates in June.

He told reporters at the inauguration of a private hospital in Wah Cantonment he hoped the financial approval for the purchase of the frigates would soon be accorded while further modalities would be finalised in May, during his upcoming visit to China.

In June, both the countries would formally sign the agreement for the supply of four Chinese F-22P frigates, he added. One or two of these frigates would be built in China, while the rest in Pakistan, he said.

In addition, he said, Pakistan would also buy anti-submarine helicopters from China and this deal would also be finalised in due course. Answering a question, he said the Pakistan Navy had been conducting joint exercises with numerous countries’ navies and at present its fleet is participating in a two-day multilateral maritime exercise in the Gulf of Oman.

In the exercise, “Arabian Shark 2004”, maritime units of nine international navies have been participating, including those of the US, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Admiral Shahid said the Pakistan Navy units will also take part in an exhibition later this year in the UK, while the PNS flag would be hoisting in the US waters the next year when its another unit will attend an exercise there.