Pakistan Navy’s latest and technologically advanced PNS Taimur participating in Exercise ‘Sea Guardians 2’
Pakistan Navy and Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) kicked off joint naval drills named ‘Sea Guardians 2’ in Shanghai on July 10.
The opening ceremony was held at a military port in Wusong, Shanghai. The exercise is being conducted in maritime and aerial spaces off Shanghai, said PLA Navy spokesperson Captain Liu Wensheng.
The theme of the exercise is “joint response to maritime security threats”. The four-day joint exercise (July 10 to 13) is aimed at promoting bilateral defense cooperation and enhancing the capabilities of the two navies to jointly respond to maritime security threats. The rills would also consolidate the traditional friendship between the two counties and two militaries, and push forward the development of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation, according to Chinese media.
The drills will be conducted in two phases including port planning and maritime exercise. During the first phase, the two sides will carry out onshore activities such as operation planning, professional expertise exchanges, and cultural, sports competitions. The second phase would include anti-submarine warfare, joint strike against maritime targets, tactical maneuvering, and joint support for damaged vessels, Liu said.
PNS Taimur participating in Naval Exercise
One of the main highlights of the exercise is the participation of Pakistan’s most advanced warship PNS Taimur — the second of the four Type 054A/P frigates built by China for the Pakistan Navy. PNS Taimur was commissioned on June 23, 2022.
This warship is a technologically advanced and highly capable platform with tremendous surface-to-surface, surface-to-air and underwater firepower besides extensive surveillance potential. PNS Taimur has the capability to simultaneously execute a number of naval warfare missions in a highly intense multi-threat
environment.
The Type 054A/P-class warship is equipped with state-of-the-art combat management and electronic warfare system along with modern self-defense capabilities, according to Pakistan Navy.
Chinese warships at the naval drills
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Eastern Theater Command Navy has sent guided-missile frigates Xiangtan (531) and Shuozhou (610), the comprehensive supply ship Qiandaohu (886), one submarine, one early warning aircraft, two fighter jets and one helicopter for Exercise Sea Guardians – 2.
Sea Guardians
The first of the Sea Guardian series exercise was held in the North Arabian Sea off Karachi city of Pakistan in January 2020. The exercise spanned over nine days in which the two navies shared professional experiences on contemporary and non-traditional threats and enhanced bilateral cooperation and interoperability.
