PNs (and Pakistans as a whole) biggest need is a more resilient and reliable. Air defense network. While HQ-9 AND reportedly HQ-9B performed reasonably well along with the more point defense style missiles and guns against India, this was the clear chink in the armor. And as weak as the aor defense over Pakistani airspace may be without fighters, the naval theater is far more dire an issue. I think any future attack may come from the sea given how poorly IAF performed as a whole and the fact that even the vaunted S400 performed poorly. So PN needs to be even more aggressively equipped for air defense than the rest given the current disparities.
First thing is that the best way to deal with hypersonic missile attack is long range, fire and forget, missiles backed by a plethora of medium ranged, fire/forget quick reaction missiles. In my estimation the available missiles to PN that fit that bill will be Siper block1 or block 2. Reportedly these should be able to intercept aircraft and missiles up to 100 - 150km respectively. Behind these should be medium ranged quick reaction missiles like CAMM-ER. Now PN needs to force the issue here because if they intend to continue these then it needs to make the supplier (Italy/Leonardo) find a way to enable PN to quad pack these. The clear answer would be Sylver and Mk-41 launchers which can already do so. But those arent available so PN needs to get these certified for MDAS. JCFs should come with MDAS from go (while 16 cells is insufficient in my eyes - should try for 32 cells) this can be somewhat mitigated if they are carrying quad packed missiles. 8 siper and 32 CAMM-ER (From total 16 cells). The baburs should also be upgraded to 8 cell MDAS (from 12 cell GWS.26). This will give them 32 medium ranged missiles, dramatically increasing survivability.
If Italy cant figure out a way to make it work or neither turk or Italy show a willingness to do so, the. PN should move on from CAMM-ER and replace it with G/M-1 (upgraded and quad packed variant of Hisar D/RF - 40KM range). G/M-1 is specifically designed to take on Hypersonic missiles with a new AESA radar seeker and a new guidance algorithm for better interception rates against supersonic anti-ship missiles.
Tughrails also need a better missile than HQ-16. HQ-16FE could fit the bill with addition of a dual mode (ARH/SARH) seeker and the 160km range. Sadly the number would still be limited by the lack of quad packing but the range and independent firing with ability to engage 8 targets (vs current 4) and at far longer ranges, would improve survival of these ships as well.
If Tughrail and JCFs are lead ships backed by smaller ships like Yarmooks, Baburs, and F-22P which all ideally would also be converted to quadpacked 8 cell VLS with CAMM-ER or G/M-1, then these battle groups should enable long range engagement of brahmos attacks (with Sipers and HQ-16FE) and have enough fast reaction missiles to cover the group for any additional brahmos breaking through. All the while you could have a sub with each group and a handful operating at sea alone in hunter killer roles.
