F - 22P Zulfiquar - class frigate The F - 22P or " Zulfiquar " - class frigate ( ) , is a general purpose frigate being built by Pakistan and China for the Pakistan Navy ( PN ) . The first ship , PNS " Zulfiquar " , was handed over to the PN on 30 July 2009 and the second , PNS " Shamsheer " , on 23 January 2010 . The third frigate , PNS " Saif " was commissioned on 15 Sep 2011 . The fourth and last frigate of F - 22P series , PNS " Aslat " was inducted on 17 April 2013 . History . Pakistan had been negotiating with China for the supply of 4 frigates since the late 1990s . The contract was signed on 4 April 2006 with the conclusion of negotiations for financing and technology transfer . The first ship was delivered in 30 July 2009 , second 23 January 2010 and third one at 15 December 2010 . The first three were being built at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai , China , while the last is under construction in Pakistan by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works ( KSEW ) to be completed in 2013 . The $ 750 million contract also includes 4 - 6 Harbin Z - 9EC anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) helicopters as well as ammunition for the frigates . According to one Chinese source Pakistan ordered four more F - 22P frigates in 2007 , although this has not been confirmed . The lead ship , PNS " Zulfiquar " , was launched on 5 April 2008 and handed over to the Pakistan Navy on 30 July 2009 . On the way to Pakistan , the frigate made a goodwill visit to Port Klang , Malaysia , in late August 2009 . Another goodwill visit was made to the Port of Colombo , Sri Lanka , during which the PNS " Zulfiquar " s Commanding Officer Captain Zahid Ilyas visited the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy , Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe , at the Navy Headquarters on 5 September . PNS Zulfiquar arrived at Karachi , Pakistan , on 12 September 2009 and the induction ceremony was held on 19 September 2009 . The second frigate of the " Zulfiquar " class , PNS " Shamsheer " , was launched at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard on 31 October 2008 . On 19 December 2009 it was commissioned in a ceremony at Shanghai , and arrived in Pakistan on 23 January 2010 . The third frigate of the " Zulfiquar " class , PNS " Saif " have been handed over to Pakistan Navy on 15 September 2010 . The fourth & last Frigate PNS " ASLAT " was indigenously built at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Limited and inducted on 17 April 2013 . According to Admiral Noman Bashir , Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy , the Navy intends to expand its fleet of F - 22P frigates from the current four by constructing more ships . These may be an improved variant incorporating features of the Type 054A frigate , possibly designated F - 23P , for which discussions have been held between Pakistan and China . Design . The F - 22P hull uses many of the radar cross - section reduction features of China ' s Type 054 frigate to help it evade detection by radars mounted on other ships , aircraft and anti - ship missiles . The 76 . 2 mm calibre main gun is a Chinese development of the Russian AK - 176M , the main difference being that the Chinese variant adopts a re - designed stealthy turret to reduce radar cross - section . The gun is designed to engage ships , aircraft and anti - ship missiles . In front of the main gun are two 6 - cell RDC - 32 anti - submarine rocket launchers . The frigate ' s primary surface - to - surface missile armament comprises eight C - 802 subsonic anti - ship missile s carried in two launchers with four cells each , fitted between the foremast and the funnel . These containers are also compatible with the CY series anti - submarine rockets and may be loaded with a combination of anti - ship and anti - submarine weapons . The FM - 90N surface - to - air missile ( SAM ) system is fitted between the main deck and main gun . The launcher has eight cells each containing one missile and is fitted on a mount that can be elevated and traversed in the direction of the threat . The FM - 90N can engage several targets , including supersonic and sub - sonic sea - skimming missiles , using different guidance modes simultaneously . The system is also designed to engage small targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAV ) . However , the FM - 90 has limited engagement angles as compared to a SAM fired from a vertical launch system . Also , the FM - 90 has inferior range , and is also non - reloadable , hence it is not suited for blue water patrol A close - in weapon system ( CIWS ) , the Type 730B , is mounted on the aircraft hangar . Comprising two seven - barrel Gatling gun s of 30 mm calibre , the F - 22P is believed to be the first ship armed with the Type 730B , which uses off - mount sensors such as the Type 347G radar and the OFC - 3 electro - optic director . The guns are mounted side - by - side on the aircraft hangar , with the off - mount sensors in between . The CIWS can be upgraded with the FL - 3000N fire - and - forget missile system by installing up to two single - round FL - 3000N launchers on each existing CIWS gun mount . The Harbin Z - 9EC anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) helicopter is equipped with a surface - search radar , low frequency dipping sonar , radar warning receiver , doppler navigation system and armed with torpedoes . The helicopter can be armed with one torpedo on the starboard side . A small antenna on the roof may provide a data - link , allowing the Z - 9 to act as a relay for targeting data between the ship and long range anti - ship missiles such as the C - 802 . Gallery . PNS " Zulfiquar " ( 251 ) , lead ship of the F - 22P " Zulfiquar " - class frigates , during a visit to Port Klang , Malaysia , on 27 August 2009 :