Pakistan: Pakistan’s Navy has quietly acquired a new intelligence gathering platform, the Rizwan, according to open-source intelligence analyst Damien Symon. The vessel, reportedly acquired from China last year, was recently spotted during a stopover in Jakarta, Indonesia. Commercially available satellite imagery reveals that the Rizwan is a compact ship, approximately 87.2 meters long, with two large radar domes on the stern, indicative of its intelligence gathering role.
While the Pakistan Navy and the Ministry of Defence Production have remained tight-lipped about the ship’s capabilities, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to Defense News that the Rizwan is indeed an “information gathering ship.” Its design, based on an offshore support vessel hull, is considered both affordable and flexible, potentially allowing for the installation of various mission modules.
Experts suggest that the Rizwan is likely equipped for gathering electronic and signals intelligence, boasting onboard signals processing and analysis capabilities. Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore, noted that while the ship may not have the capacity for telemetry missile tracking like the Chinese Yuan Wang series, it is well-suited for monitoring and analyzing electromagnetic emissions.
The acquisition of the Rizwan is viewed in the broader context of Sino-Pakistani relations and Pakistan’s efforts to modernize its military capabilities. Mansoor Ahmed, an academic at the Australian National University, highlighted China’s support for Pakistan’s naval modernization efforts, including projects such as the Hangor II submarines, long-range unmanned combat drones, and anti-ship missiles. These developments aim to enhance Pakistan’s maritime capabilities and reduce the naval asymmetry with India.
The addition of the Rizwan to Pakistan’s naval fleet underscores the country’s strategic focus on enhancing its intelligence gathering capabilities in response to regional challenges. It is seen as a significant step towards bolstering Pakistan’s maritime security and defense posture in the Indian Ocean region.
