PNS ''Saif'' (FFG-253) is a F-22P ''Zulfiquar''-class

guided missile frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and maneuvera ...

which serves as the front line warship of the

Pakistan Navy The Pakistan Navy (PN) (; ''romanized'': Pākistān Bahrí'a; ) is the naval warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The Chief of the Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Com ...

since her

commission In-Commission or commissioning may refer to: Business and contracting * Commission (remuneration), a form of payment to an agent for services rendered ** Commission (art), the purchase or the creation of a piece of art most often on behalf of anot ...

in 2010.

Operational history

''Saif'' was constructed and built in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard Co. where her

keel laying Laying the keel or laying down is the formal recognition of the start of a shipbuilding, ship's construction. It is often marked with a ceremony attended by dignitaries from the shipbuilding company and the ultimate owners of the ship. Keel l ...

was performed. ''Saif'' was subjected to the extensive

sea trials A sea trial or trial trip is the testing phase of a watercraft (including boats, ships, and submarines). It is also referred to as a " shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on o ...

conducted by the

in China under

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

Zubair Shafiq on June-July 2010, and was acquired on 9 November 2010. On 19 September 2010, ''Saif'' was commissioned into the military services of the

with Adm. Noman Bashir overseeing her commissioning ceremony in China. She is the second warship to have the name ''Saif'', which is a

talwar The talwar (), also spelled talwaar and tulwar, is a type of curved sword or sabre from the Indian subcontinent. Etymology and classification The word ''talwar'' originated from the Sanskrit Language, Sanskrit word ''taravāri'' () which means ...

() or sword (). Her commissioning ended the construction phase of the project in China.

Gallery

File:The side of the PNS Zulfiquar.jpg, The side of PNS ''Saif'' anchored in

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2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

File:PNS Saif - FM90 SAM.jpg, The FM-90N SAM system installed in ''Saif'' File:PNS Saif - C-802 4-cell Cannister Front View.jpg, The 4-cell C-802 Eagle Strike guided missiles installed in ''Saif'' File:C-802 anti ship missile.JPG, The C-802 "Eagle" SSM system installed in ''Saif'' File:PNS Saif - ET-52 Torpedo Launchers.jpg, The ET-52C torpedo tube launchers File:PNS Saif - PJ-26 Gun.jpg, The 76.2 mm gun mounted on ''Zulfiqar'' as main

naval artillery Naval artillery is artillery mounted on a warship, originally used only for naval warfare and then subsequently used for more specialized roles in surface warfare such as naval gunfire support (NGFS) and anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) engagements. ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saif (F253) F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigate 2009 ships Ships built in China