PNS Saif (F253)

For other ships with the same name, see PNS Saif.

PNS Saif (FFG-253), a F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigate anchored in the Manila South Harbor in the Philippines in 2017.
History
Pakistan
Name	PNS Saif
Namesake	Saif (Lit. talwar , sword)
Builder	Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard Co. in China
Laid down	4 November 2008
Launched	28 May 2009
Commissioned	19 September 2010
In service	2010–present
Homeport	Karachi Naval Base
Nickname(s)	Saifuddin
Status	In active service
General characteristics
Class & type	F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigate
Displacement	2,500 tonnes (standard) [1] 3,144 tonnes (full load)
Length	123.2 m (404 ft 2 in)
Beam	13.8 m (45 ft 3 in)
Draught	3.76 m (12 ft 4 in)
Propulsion	CODAD (Combined Diesel and Diesel) 2 × Tognum MTU 12V 1163 TB 83 at 10.5 MW 2 × MTU cruise diesels at 6.6 MW
Speed	29 kn (54 km/h) maximum
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km)
Complement	202, 14 officers and 188 enlists.
Sensors & processing systems	SUR 17 air surveillance radar SR-60 air/surface search radar KH 2007 navigation radar Type 347 CIWS fire-control radar CIWS electro-optical director Radar warning receiver suite
Electronic warfare & decoys	RWD-8 intercept, NJ8I-3 jammer Decoy flare, chaff launchers
Armament	Guns: 1 × 76.2 mm calibre AK–176M main gun 2 × Type 730B CIWS Missiles: 1 × 8-cell FM-90N SAM launcher 2 × 4-cell C-802 SSM launchers Other: 2 × 3-cell ET-52C torpedo launchers 2 × 6-cell RDC-32 Anti-submarine rockets
Aircraft carried	1 × Harbin Z-9EC ASW helicopter
Aviation facilities	Flight deck and enclosed hangar

PNS Saif (FFG-253) is a F-22P Zulfiquar-class guided missile frigate which serves as the front line warship of the Pakistan Navy since her commission in 2010. ^[2]

Operational history

Saif was constructed and built in China by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard Co. where her keel laying was performed. ^[3] Saif was subjected to the extensive sea trials conducted by the Pakistan Navy in China under Captain Zubair Shafiq on June–July 2010, and was acquired on 9 November 2010. ^[4]

On 19 September 2010, Saif was commissioned into the military services of the Pakistan Navy with Adm. Noman Bashir overseeing her commissioning ceremony in China. ^[5] She is the second warship to have the name Saif, which is a talwar (Urdu : تلوار) or sword (Arabic : سيف). Her commissioning ended the construction phase of the project in China. ^[6]

Gallery

• 
  The side of PNS Saif anchored in Manila South Harbor, Philippines in 2017
• 
  The FM-90N SAM system installed in Saif
• 
  The 4-cell C-802 Eagle Strike guided missiles installed in Saif
• 
  The C-802 "Eagle" SSM system installed in Saif
• 
  The ET-52C torpedo tube launchers
• 
  The 76.2 mm gun mounted on Zulfiqar as main naval artillery

References

1. F 2 2 P Frigate Archived 2009-06-02 at the Wayback Machine
2. "First Ever Deployment of Pakistan Navy Ship Under Pakistan Navy's Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP) Initiative in Gulf of Aden & Southern Red Sea Region". www.ispr.gov.pk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
3. "Pakistan CNS commissions of 3rd F-22 P Frigate". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
4. "Ministry of Defence Pakistan Navy" (PDF). Naval Radio. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
5. "Pakistan Commissions Third F-22P Frigate". Naval Technology. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
6. "Third F22P frigate inducted in naval fleet". DAWN.COM. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2019.