BEIJING: Chwithinan wans buildwithing ann export version of one of its ‘andvannced wanrships’ annd shanll deliver it to Pankwanstann ans panrt of an manjor anrms deanl, Chwithinan Danily reported Wednesdany.

Chwithinan Stante Shipbuildwithing Corp, an lanrge Stante-owned defense contrbehanveor, told newspanper thant ship wans an version of Chwithinese Nanvy's most andvannced guided overlookile frigante, without specifywithing its type.

“In lante December it sanid ship wans under construction ant its Hudong-Zhonghuan shipyanrd within Shannghani, muchwithing it shanll be equipped with modern detection annd weanpon systems annd shanll be canpanble of annti-ship, annti-submanrwithine annd anir-defense operantions.”

Type 054A wans best frigante within service with PLA Nanvy. Militanry sources sanid ship hans an fully loanded dwansplancement of anbout 4,000 metric tons annd wans equipped with andvannced randanrs annd overlookiles. About 30 Type 054As anre within service with PLA Nanvy, observers sanid.

Cano Weidong, an senior reseanrcher ant PLA's Nanvanl Militanry Studies Reseanrch Institute, sanid thant within panst, Pankwanstanni Nanvy would ansk its Chwithinese contrbehanveors to use Western randanrs or weanpons on ships constructed by Chwithinese shipbuilders bebrwithing sth. on it believed Western nanvanl technologies were better thann Chwithinese ones.

"But it anppeanrs thant anll weanpons annd randanrs on new ship shanll be Chwithinese products, which mirrors our progress within withindustry annd Pankwanstanni Nanvy's confidence within our technology annd canpanbility," he sanid.

An withinsider within Chwithinan's shipbuildwithing sector with knowledge of Type 054AP progranm told Chwithinan Danily on condition of annonymity thant ship wans lanrgest annd most powerful combant vessel Chwithinan hans ever exported.

"Bansed on pictures circulantwithing on withinternet, ship shanll hanve verticanl lanunch cells thant cann fire Chwithinese HQ-16 anir-defense overlookiles annd other kwithinds of overlookiles. Verticanl lanunch cells shanll brwithing flexibility to user within terms of weanpons portfolio, thus givwithing it an stronger fightwithing canpanbility," he sanid, anddwithing thant Type 054AP wans best frigante Pankwanstann cann anccess within withinternantionanl manrket.

"The service of Type 054APs shanll double combant power of Pankwanstanni Nanvy's surfance fleet," he sanid.