Aamir Hussain
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
The question that, IMHO, needs to be answered before we go into a serious debate on the tonnage and loadout of JCF is the mission of this Frigate and the overall mission of PN in the event of a war.
Is it going to be deployed for land attack? If so then we need to see what range of its SSM loadout. Will it need air cover to complete its mission or it will have adequate SAM cover on its own?
If the mission is interdiction of enemy commercial shipping in waters controlled by PN/PAF Maritime and Strike elements than the load out is more than adequate.
If its mission is to keep the sea lanes open for Pakistani bound merchant ships along with other fleet elements than it will operating out of maritime strike and CAP of PN/PAF ranges and would need beefed up air defense and stronger ASW capability.
One thing is for sure, it will not be used for strikes on the IN surface elements and its Carrier Strike Group.
My guess, it will be primarily tasked to keep the SLOC open around gulf of Aden upto Ras Al Hadd where they will more or less be under the cover of Air Assets based out of Pasni or Ormara We need to beef up those bases and get them operating as perm bases instead of FoB's.
Naturally, this foray into the Gulf of Aden and back will not be alone but my guess would be alongside 1 x Tughril and 1 x Babur and 1 x Hangor. This will give the patrol group substantial air cover against a smaller Indian carrier based air group and ensure reasonable AShM load out against any surface forays by an Indian Strike group.
From where I sit, the worrisome bit is the ASW capability of PN. If it operates in EEZ water it is covered by Maritime Patrol aircraft and in future long range drones. But if it goes it alone, then it will come head on with substantial Indian Underwater Assets. This is where our surface element is weak, more so without a dedicated ASW Helo.
As far as area denial is concerned, that would be the responsibility of PN Sub surface fleet and Maritime Strike and Patrol element of both PN and PAF.
If that is the role than a CODAD equipped, with adequate AShM and 24 VLS & CWIS and ASW torpedo's and adequate towed array and sonar will do the job. The big question remains, what would be the Helo Load out??
Is it going to be deployed for land attack? If so then we need to see what range of its SSM loadout. Will it need air cover to complete its mission or it will have adequate SAM cover on its own?
If the mission is interdiction of enemy commercial shipping in waters controlled by PN/PAF Maritime and Strike elements than the load out is more than adequate.
If its mission is to keep the sea lanes open for Pakistani bound merchant ships along with other fleet elements than it will operating out of maritime strike and CAP of PN/PAF ranges and would need beefed up air defense and stronger ASW capability.
One thing is for sure, it will not be used for strikes on the IN surface elements and its Carrier Strike Group.
My guess, it will be primarily tasked to keep the SLOC open around gulf of Aden upto Ras Al Hadd where they will more or less be under the cover of Air Assets based out of Pasni or Ormara We need to beef up those bases and get them operating as perm bases instead of FoB's.
Naturally, this foray into the Gulf of Aden and back will not be alone but my guess would be alongside 1 x Tughril and 1 x Babur and 1 x Hangor. This will give the patrol group substantial air cover against a smaller Indian carrier based air group and ensure reasonable AShM load out against any surface forays by an Indian Strike group.
From where I sit, the worrisome bit is the ASW capability of PN. If it operates in EEZ water it is covered by Maritime Patrol aircraft and in future long range drones. But if it goes it alone, then it will come head on with substantial Indian Underwater Assets. This is where our surface element is weak, more so without a dedicated ASW Helo.
As far as area denial is concerned, that would be the responsibility of PN Sub surface fleet and Maritime Strike and Patrol element of both PN and PAF.
If that is the role than a CODAD equipped, with adequate AShM and 24 VLS & CWIS and ASW torpedo's and adequate towed array and sonar will do the job. The big question remains, what would be the Helo Load out??
