On April 4, the Pakistan Navy held the induction ceremony for the second Babur-class (PN MILGEM) corvette, the PNS KHAIBAR (F-282), in Karachi.
Addressing the induction ceremony of 2nd PN MILGEM Class Corvette PNS KHAIBAR held at Karachi, Adm Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Pakistan Navy, emphasized a strong, balanced and technologically advanced Navy to safeguard SLOCs and maritime interests.
According to the social media posts by the Pakistan Navy, Admiral Ashraf underscored that during Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan Navy was poised to sink the Indian Navy Aircraft Carrier, which forced the Indian Navy to remain in retreat in their perceived safe havens. Pakistan Navy Chief also mentioned the induction of next generation platforms and niche technologies, making Pakistan Navy capable of targeting critical infrastructure & naval assets of the adversary. He added PNS KHAIBAR & forthcoming HANGOR Class Submarines to enhance Pakistan Navy’s combat power and reach.
In July 2018, a contract was signed between Military Factory and Shipyard Management Corporation (ASFAT) of Türkiye and the Pakistani National Defense Ministry Ammunition Production and Karachi Shipyard for the construction of four Milgem class vessels based on Turkish Ada-class design. Turkish defence minister at the time described the deal as “the largest defense export of Turkey in one agreement.”
The contract entails the construction of two corvettes in Turkey and two at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW). The contract has also provisions for transfer of design rights and construction know-how from Türkiye to Pakistan.
PNS Khaibar was constructed in the Istanbul Naval Shipyard in Türkiye, and recently sailed to the homeland after the completion of the final trials.
About PN MILGEM / Babur-class corvettes
PN MILGEM Program consists of 4 ships, 2 ships are being built in Istanbul Shipyard Command and another 2 are being built in KS&EW. Turkish Ministry of Defence owned ASFAT Inc. is the primary contractor of the project. The program started on 11 March 2019. The deliveries of the ships, which will be able to perform all kinds of military duties from air defense to submarine defense, are expected to be made at six-month intervals starting from August 2023.
The exact configuration of the Pakistan Milgem-class ships has not been made public yet. During the Aman Naval Exercise held in February 2019, Admiral Abbasi said that Pakistan ships will be fitted with a 16-Cell VLS behind the main gun. It is expected that the Babur-class corvettes will be armed with MBDA’s Albatros NG air defence system and Harbah Anti-ship and land attack missiles.
The propulsion system for all the MILGEM ships consist of one LM2500 gas turbine in a combined diesel and gas turbine configuration with two diesel engines; total propulsion power is 31,600 kilowatts.
Turkey’s Ada-class are multipurpose corvettes able to conduct a wide a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air warfare.
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