No Bro, PN is looking for OPVs (heavy armed class) & finalizing the deal for such OPVs (12) & C28A is the most near design (almost Final) for PN - OPVs....
Again No, PN has already finalized FFG design (054A) & order is placed for 4 such FFGs....the only thing which yet to be decided that how many will be constructed in Pakistan.
C28 is rather big for an OPV. Its somewhere between the 053/H3 or F22P and the original 054. The armament is more like the 054's. I tend to think you either get a new version of the C28 or the 054, but the difference between C28/054 blurs at some point, and it can be said that C28 is really just a blanket designation for 054 based export variants, even if these variants have different designs. The likelihood is that the Pakistani frigate will be called C28P; the previous C28A is A for Algeria.
Whether the PLAN will approve the 054A for export is another thing. Generally, the PLA does not like exact copies of their stuff exported to other nations, but allow for variations of their stuff to other nations --- even if this variation offers technological advantages and additional features over the stock PLA version. The C28A for instance, hides its thermal signature by routing all funnel exhaust gases to the water line, creating a funnel less ship that makes the ship thermally stealthier than the PLAN version that cools its funnel by routing fresh air along the sides.
The Thales SMART-S radar on top of the Algerian C28A is in my opinion, a technologically superior radar over the FRESCAN based Type 382 MR710 "Fregat M2EM" or "Top Plate" on top of the Type 054A, as well as the Russian version on top of Indian and Russian frigates. Mainly because FRESCAN steers the beam vertically up and down by changing the frequency of the beam as the waveform goes through slots. Since the radar is frequency dependent on the way it steers, it does not lend itself easily to one of the most prolific methods of ECCM, which is frequency hopping. FRESCAN arrays are still commonly used though, because its cheap and it works well. A good example is the SPS-48 radar that the Nimitz class is using.
Future C28s are not likely to use the SMART-S unless the customer specifies this or another non-Chinese radar. The default option for C28s are likely to be SR2410C radars from now on, a rotating AESA that is functionally replaces the SMART-S. A Pakistan 054A version might have SR2410C which has already been sold to Bangladesh and therefore a proven device, or a new phase array, likely an AESA, that is being set as a replacement for the Type 382 (we are not sure if this is intended to be PLAN use only device for a duration or something made for export.)
On the corvette side, PN should do better getting the P18 export corvette --- a Type 056 variation that allows for eight ASM tubes and a helicopter hanger, along with the SR2410C for its main radar.
.. simply amazing
