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Recently, news surged as China rolled out the first Type 054A/P frigate, or warship, for Pakistan. This warship, named the PNS Tughril, is the first of four such Type 054 frigates under construction for the Pakistan Navy. This development bears significant implications for geopolitical relations, regional defense strategies, and military power balances.
Key Features of PNS Tughril
The PNS Tughril presents a leap in technological advancement and potency. Its firepower ranges from surface-to-surface, surface-to-air and underwater, raising the bar high for surveillance capabilities. With cutting-edge stealth capability, this warship can seamlessly evade radar detection. It boasts of long-range missiles and an advanced multi-shot cannon. A modern Battle Management System (BMS) enhances its fighting ability by ensuring efficient communication between the onboard radar and interceptor missile.
Potential Threat to India
The emergence of the PNS Tughril is bound to bolster the Pakistan Navy’s ability to address maritime challenges, particularly those arising in the Indian Ocean region. The warship will be the mainstay of the Pakistan Navy fleet, reinforcing its maritime defense potentials. Additionally, China has also partnered with the Pakistan Air Force to construct the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft.
China’s Strategic Maritime Expansions
Beyond supplying Pakistan with advanced naval ships, China has been firming up its maritime presence in strategic locations. This includes establishing its first military base in Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, and acquiring the Gwadar port in Pakistan’s Arabian Sea shores. The Gwadar port links directly to China’s Xinjiang province via the $60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Besides, China has also undertaken the development of Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port on a 99-year lease.
India’s Response: Agreements and Engagements
In response to the growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India has negotiated military access to strategic bases with several states in the littoral IOR. These engagements include access to Indonesia’s strategically-located deep-sea Sabang port and Oman’s Duqm port, and further agreements with superpowers like France and the USA. This has granted India access to port facilities at the US base on Diego Garcia and the French base on Reunion Island.
The Quadrilateral Dialogue and Other International Collaborations
The United States has initiated an informal Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with India, including Australia and Japan. France also proposed a “Paris-New Delhi-Canberra” axis in the Indo-Pacific, signifying India’s escalating influence in IOR geopolitics. Additionally, the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) aims to fortify maritime security by providing a shared maritime situation overview and acting as a regional maritime information hub.
Naval Exercises and Modernization Plans
India has conducted the “Malabar” naval exercise involving the US, Japan, and Australia, and the multilateral “Milan” naval exercises in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with 16 other countries. It also participated in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), alongside Australian, Japanese, and US naval forces. On the modernization front, India has commissioned one carrier, the INS Vikramaditya, and plans to commission another, the INS Vikrant. To enhance its naval fleet, it also intends to procure 57 carrier-based fighter jets and roll out a new Arihant -class of nuclear-powered attack vessels.