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]

On 18 November 2025, Saif arrived at the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, on a replenishment mission. The vessel departed the island on 19 November. ^[7]

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.
7. "PNS Saif departs island concluding her visit". Sri Lanka Navy. 19 November 2025. Archived from the original on 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.