Turkey Launches First MILGEM Corvette for Pakistan

The first MILGEM-class corvette for the Pakistan Navy, PNS Babur, was launched at Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY) on Sunday.

“Launching ceremony of 1st MILGEM Class ship for PN held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard. President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi & President of Turkey Mr Tayyip Erdoğan graced the ceremony as chief guests,” Pakistan Navy announced August 14.

The MILGEM Ada-class of ships will be deployed in a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, early warning, anti-submarine warfare, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air warfare, and amphibious operations. They will come equipped with stealth features, 5th generation weapons and sensors including indigenously developed missile system.

Pakistan signed a contract for the acquisition of four Ada class ships with Turkey’s Military Factory and Shipyard Corporation (ASFAT A.Ş.) in July 2018. The Navy will receive its first MILGEM by 2023-2024, while the other three ships will arrive by 2025.

The deliveries of all the corvettes for which Turkey and Pakistan signed a deal in 2018 will be completed by 2025, Erdoğan confirmed at the ceremony.

Karachi shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) is building the last two of the four ships, while INSY is responsible for first two vessels. The fourth warship will be designed jointly by Pakistan's Maritime Technologies Complex (MTC) and will be the first indigenously designed & constructed Frigate.