The Pakistani Navy has received the first of three Sword / F-22p Class frigates ordered from Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai, China under a $750m deal.

The new frigate, christened PNS Zulfiqar, arrived at South Pakistan’s Karachi port following maiden naval exercises in the Arabian Sea.

The 3,144t Sword Class ship is equipped with long-range ship-to-ship and ship-to-air missiles, depth charges, torpedoes, latest 76mm guns, close-in weapons system (CIWS), sensors, electronic warfare and an advanced command and control system.

Under the same deal, China will also supply four to six Harbin Z9EC anti-submarine warfare helicopters.

The second and third ships are nearing completion and are expected to be delivered by the end of 2010, while a fourth ship under construction at Karachi Shipyards is expected to join the fleet by 2013.