Pakistan’s navy has begun to purchase new warships as part of an effort to replace six Type 21 frigates that the country acquired from the U.K. in the 1990s, Defense News reported Wednesday.
The report said Pakistan awarded a contract in June 2017 for a Chinese Type 054A Jiangkai II frigate, with plans to buy two more ships.
Pakistan also entered a deal in November for four Ada-class corvettes that will be developed under Turkey’s Milgem warship program.
The South Asian country requested to acquire up to two corvettes from Los Angeles, California-based shipbuilding company Swiftships.
The Pakistani navy could use the Type 054A and Ada ships to cover replacement of the Type 21s and deploy Swiftship-made vessels to help meet regional security commitments, the report noted.