The Pakistani Navy will purchase Chinese Z-9D carrier based helicopters for its first "Tughril class" frigate (Type 054AP) for anti-ship and anti submarine operations. The Pakistani Navy has introduced the Chinese made 053H3 frigate equipped with Z-9CE.

Z-9D is an improvement from Z-9C, and its main improvements include:

Surface Search Radar (KLC-3B): The Z-9D is equipped with a more advanced surface search radar KLC-3B than the KLC-1 search radar of the Z-9C. KLC-3B is an improved X-band airborne search radar that can search for surface vessels with a maximum displacement of 3000 tons, with a search distance of up to 180 kilometers, and can search for small missile boats and speedboats within a range of 80-100 kilometers. This radar can share target data with surface vessels, which can launch CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missiles for beyond visual range attacks based on radar data.

Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF): The Z-9D has radar warning receiver antennas (RWR) on both sides of the nose and tail rotor, which can detect any threatening radar signals from enemy fire control radar and issue warnings. Z-9D is equipped with an IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) antenna. The Z-9C lacks these systems, but the Pakistani Navy's Z-9EC has been upgraded and equipped with RWR and IFF antennas.

New Immersion Sonar (Hanging) and Sonar Buoy: The Z-9D is equipped with a more advanced immersion sonar that can carry 12 passive sonar buoys and 4 active sonar buoys, while the Z-9C is equipped with the older 605 immersion sonar. The Z-9C does not carry sonar buoys and requires another Z-9C to provide target coordinates for torpedoes during combat. The Z-9EC purchased by the Pakistan Navy has active and passive sonar buoys, which is the export version of the Z-9C specifically designed for the Pakistan Navy.

Weapons (torpedoes and supersonic anti-ship missiles): The Z-9D short wing can carry up to two new YU-11K anti submarine torpedoes and up to four YJ-9 subsonic anti-ship missiles. YJ-9 is an active radar guided subsonic anti-ship missile with a combat weight of 100 kilograms, a warhead weight of 30 kilograms, a range of 15 kilometers, and a flight speed of 0.85 Mach.

The Pakistani Navy has also selected the CM-501GA supersonic television/infrared imaging terminal guided supersonic cruise missile for the Z-9EC/D, which can also use GPS guidance. The combat weight of CM-501GA is 100 kilograms, the warhead is 20 kilograms, and the hit rate within a range of 5-50 kilometers can reach 90%.

Source: Military of Strong Countries