First Firing of Pakistani Milgem Frigate with Turkish Combat Management System

The Pakistan Navy’s second MILGEM-class corvette, PNS Khaibar, has completed its first live-fire trials using the Turkish-built ADVENT Combat Management System.

During the trials, the ship’s 76-millimeter main gun struck a designated land target with a direct hit. The STOP 25-millimeter remote-controlled stabilized gun system repeated the result against surface targets. The ship also engaged sea and aerial targets during earlier rounds of testing in October.

The MILGEM program covers four corvettes under a 2020 agreement that includes two ships built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard and two at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, with Turkey’s ASFAT serving as the main contractor. Havelsan is providing the ADVENT Combat Management System and the FLEETSTAR Ship Data Distribution System, while acting as the project’s main systems integrator.

PNS Babur, the first vessel in the program, completed firing tests in April 2024 and joined the Pakistan Navy the following month. PNS Khaibar will conduct joint activities with the Turkish Navy before sailing to Karachi for final acceptance.

Construction of the third ship, PNS Badr, is nearing completion at Karachi Shipyard, with first sea trials planned for December. The fourth vessel, PNS Tariq, is under construction with testing expected to begin by late 2026.