August 4, 2009: Two years after placing the order, Pakistan has received the first of four F-22P frigates. This an improved version of the Chinese Jiangwei II (053H3). Pakistan already has four of these, as the F-22.
China is building three F22Ps, while the other will be built in Pakistan. The 342 foot long Jiangwei II displaces 2,500 tons, and carries an eight cell short range (8.6 kilometers) surface-to-air missile system, two, four cell anti-ship missile systems 200 kilometers range C-803s), one four cell launcher for rocket launched anti-submarine torpedoes, a 76.2mm gun, two 30mm anti-missiles auto-cannon, and a helicopter. Top speed is 50 kilometers an hour, crew size is 170 sailors, and each ship will cost about $200 million. The new American LCS weighs about the same, but has only half as many sailors in the crew, lots more automation and costs over $600 million. All four of these frigates are to be delivered within the next four years.
