The Pakistan Navy has commissioned its second indigenously built Azmat-class fast-attack craft (FAC), PNS Dehshat, boosting the country’s defence production potential.

Built at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) under a transfer of technology (ToT) arrangement with China, work on the ship was jointly carried out by China Shipbuilding & Offshore Company (CSOC) Shipyard, Xingang Shipyard and naval authorities.

"The 63m-long warship is integrated with the latest weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface missiles."

Naval Staff chief admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila said that the decision lays the foundations for long-term socioeconomic benefits for Pakistan.

"To the fleet command, I may say that you are getting a ship well built and well tested, that you may deploy as per the aspirations of [the] Pakistan Navy and the nation," Sandila said.

"The commissioning of Dehshat is the culmination of work for its builders and at the same time it is the beginning of work for its crew."

Construction on Dehshat started in November 2011.

The 63m-long warship is integrated with the latest weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface missiles. It can be deployed for anti-air and search and rescue operations.

Powered by four diesel engines, the Azmat-class FAC has a beam of 8.8m, displacement capacity of 560t and can cruise at a maximum speed of 30k.

PNS Azmat, the first of the two Azmat-class FACs (missile), was commissioned in April 2012 at Xingang Shipyard in Tianjin, China.

Defence Technology