Pakistan Navy Receives Final Azmat-class Fast Attack Craft- Missile (FAC-M) PNS Haibat

The Pakistan Navy (PN) commissioned its fourth and final indigenously designed Azmat-class fast attack craft PNS Haibat on 31 March in Karachi. The vessel is “the first land mark project” indigenously designed by Maritime Technologies Complex and constructed by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works without any foreign technical assistance. The Chief of Naval Staff emphasized that in the context of the overall security paradigm of the region, PNS Haibat will strengthen Pakistan Navy’s capabilities to respond to maritime challenges and ensure peace and stability in Indian Ocean Region.

The Azmat-class fast attack craft (military designation: Azmat FAC(M)) is a class of missile-bearing fast attack craft, currently in service with the Pakistan Navy as of 2017. The Azmat class is based on the Chinese design, Houjian class, with slightly different modifications for the need of the Pakistani military. The Pakistan Navy welcomed the first Azmat-class fast attack craft PNS Azmat back in 2012. The project was jointly designed and constructed in Pakistan and China after a partnership agreement was signed between two Chinese contractors, China State Shipbuilding Corporation and the Xingang Shipyard and the Pakistan-based KSEW Ltd.

The Azmat-class are 63 meters long and have a beam of 8.8 meters with a displacement of 560 tons. Each Azmat class fast attack missile craft is powered by four diesel engines driving four fixed pitch propellers (FPPs) through a pair of two propulsion shafts. The propulsion system provides high manoeuvrability to the vessel during high-intensity missions. The ship has a maximum speed of 30k and can attain a range of 1,000nmi. The Azmat class vessels lack aircraft handling facilities due to their compact dimensions. Each ship can complement a crew of 12 to 14. The state-of-the-art vessel incorporates a steel hull and super structure made of aluminium.

The Azmat class is installed with two quadruple missile launchers to fire eight C-802 anti-ship cruise missiles. The C-802 is an extended-range export variant of the Chinese-built YJ-8 anti-ship missile. The fully-automated gun mount can be remotely operated from either the control cabinet or using a remotely located gun-sight. The CIWS offers a rate of fire of 4,000 to 10,000 rounds a minute and can engage targets within a range of 5,000m. Fitted with a 25mm automatic gun as the main rifle, the Azmat class is also armed with an AK-630 close-in weapon system (CIWS) to protect the ship from incoming anti-ship missiles and other precision-guided weapons.