Pakistan MİLGEM Project 1st Corvette PNS BABUR (280) Delivered to Pakistan Navy
Yaşar GÜLER, Minister of National Defense; Anwar Ali HYDER, Minister of Defense of Pakistan; Admiral Ercüment TATLIOĞLU, Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces; Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan NIAZI, Commander of the Pakistan Navy; Haluk GÖRGÜN, President of the Defense Industry Agency; Celal Sami TÜFEKÇİ, Deputy Minister of National Defense and many other guests attended the ceremony held in Istanbul.
During the ceremony, Minister of National Defense Yaşar GÜLER emphasized that Pakistan's decision to enhance its Naval Forces through the MİLGEM Project, as a friendly and brotherly nation, showcases the remarkable achievements of the Turkish defense industry. “The concurrent construction of 4 Corvettes and 2 Offshore Patrol Vessels, overseen by ASFAT as the prime contractor, represents a historic milestone for our country's defense industry—a first in the history of our Republic. Today, we take justifiable pride and excitement in this remarkable achievement. As you are all aware, Türkiye and Pakistan have strong ties of friendship and brotherhood deeply rooted in history. This close bond of friendship and brotherhood not only paves the way for multifaceted cooperation and excellent relations between our countries today but also shapes our common future. In this context, the MİLGEM Projects, which hold critical importance, stand as a significant achievement for Türkiye and Pakistan, two countries actively engaged in their region and respected globally. We are delighted that Pakistan, a friendly and brotherly country, has chosen the MİLGEM Project to enhance its Naval Forces. This project, showcasing the remarkable capabilities of the Turkish defense industry, has deepened our strategic partnership, and the successful completion of this project opens doors to new collaborative opportunities. We firmly believe that today's delivery of the Babur Corvette, a part of this project, will significantly enhance Pakistan's defense and security, boosting the capabilities of the Pakistani Armed Forces. We look forward to further strengthening our culture of cooperation and joint endeavors, not only in naval flatforms but also in ground and air platforms, with our brotherly ally, Pakistan.”
Minister GÜLER also made the following statement regarding the launch of the 1st Ship AKHİSAR (P-1220) and the 2nd Ship KOÇHİSAR (P-1221) of the Offshore Patrol Vessels Project: "Today, we take immense pride and joy in launching AKHISAR and KOÇHISAR, our inaugural offshore patrol vessels built for our Naval Forces. By introducing these vessels into the Turkish Navy's fleet, which epitomize the exceptional capabilities of our domestic and national defense industry, our Naval Forces will significantly enhance their operational prowess and effectiveness within our Blue Homeland, solidifying their esteemed position among the world's foremost naval forces."
Haluk GÖRGÜN, President of the Defense Industry Agency (SSB), highlighted the significant role of various platforms in safeguarding our Blue Homeland and proudly noted, "Through our projects at the Defense Industry Agency, we've not only raised our national flag but also reinforced our presence in the Blue Homeland. Particularly in the realm of naval platforms, we've embraced the motto ‘The security of our homeland hinges upon the protection of the Blue Homeland,' guiding us to become a global leader in this domain. We've evolved into a country that not only fulfills our own requirements but also those of our friendly and allied nations through our air, ground, and naval vehicles. At present, we are among the select few nations worldwide with the capacity to independently design, construct, equip, and manage warships. Furthermore, we have achieved a prominent position among the top 3-4 countries globally in the production of UAVs and UCAVs.”
GÖRGÜN stated that they are persistently working to enhance Türkiye's naval capabilities, emphasizing their commitment to bolstering not only Türkiye's navy but also the navies of allied nations, through advanced armed unmanned naval vehicles capable of various missions, I-class frigates, amphibious ships, submarines, and aircraft carriers, all equipped with cutting-edge technology.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan NIAZI underlined that PN MILGEM Ships fitted with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors will play a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. He expressed his gratitude for enhanced collaboration in defense production especially in the Maritime domain between the two countries. The Admiral stated that in line with Govt Policies, Pakistan Navy has adopted indigenization of platforms and hence it is very satisfying to see modern warships being built in collaboration with brotherly country Türkiye.
After the speeches, the patrol vessels AKHISAR and KOÇHISAR were ceremoniously launched.
A ceremony was also held to mark the delivery of the PNS Babur, the first of four corvettes produced for the Pakistan Armed Forces as part of the Pakistan MİLGEM Project.
Minister of National Defense Yaşar GÜLER and Pakistan's Minister of Defense for the interim government, Anwar Ali HYDER, took part in a signing ceremony for the Book of Honor. Following the hoisting of the flag on the ship during the rendition of the Pakistan National Anthem, both ministers joined the ship's crew for a commemorative photo.
PN MİLGEM Corvettes
The PN MİLGEM corvettes, evolved from the Ada Class Ships, represent an advanced class of warships tailored to meet the specific requirements of the Pakistan Navy. These enhancements involved substantial changes to their dimensions, including increased length and width, necessitating a comprehensive reassessment of all aspects of the design. The process included conducting model tests, power calculations, hydrodynamic analyses, as well as evaluations of vibration, explosion resistance, and structural integrity. Furthermore, the capacities of all onboard systems were recalibrated to align with the updated dimensions, resulting in the successful completion of the redesign.
As part of the project, two of the PN MİLGEM corvettes, for which the contract was signed in 2018, are under construction at Istanbul Shipyard Command (PNS BABUR “280” and PNS KHAIBAR “282”), while two more are being built at Karachi Shipyard (PNS BADR and PNS TARIQ).
According to the delivery schedule, PNS KHAIBAR (282) is expected to be delivered to the Pakistan Navy on August 11, 2024. The rest of the vessels that have been under construction at the KS&EW shipyard are respectively expected to be delivered to the Pakistan Navy on February 11, 2024, and February 5, 2025.
This project, highlighting the strong partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye, extends beyond the construction of four ships. It encompasses the development of infrastructure in Karachi for the maintenance and repair of PN MİLGEM ships, training Karachi Shipyard personnel in Türkiye to build new and advanced ships, and equipping Karachi Shipyard with the capability to construct PN MİLGEM ships through technology transfer and support. The establishment of infrastructure at the Pakistan Navy Maintenance and Repair Shipyard will also enable the maintenance and repair of PN MİLGEM ships' cannons, electronic systems, and machinery in Karachi. Additionally, this facility will handle ship maintenance at various levels with trained personnel.
To ensure the continued successful construction of the 3rd and 4th ships, a comprehensive training program encompassing 18 subjects was designed for Karachi Shipyard personnel, totaling 3,225 man*days. A substantial portion of this program has already been completed. Furthermore, as a pivotal aspect of the main project, the collaborative development of a new frigate (JINNAH Class) in partnership with the Pakistan Navy's design team represents a significant milestone. This endeavor involves the transfer of knowledge and experience acquired by Turkish engineers over the years, encompassing all aspects of the frigate's journey, from contractual phase to the final design. This achievement holds great importance for the Pakistani side.
Offshore Patrol Vessel
The construction of the Hisar Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) was initiated to swiftly and cost-effectively enhance Türkiye's maritime defense capabilities, ensuring the protection and preservation of its rights and interests at sea. The construction activities are currently underway at Istanbul Shipyard Command, led by the prime contractor ASFAT.
The first two vessels of the series, TCG AKHİSAR and TCG KOÇHİSAR, were launched on September 23, 2023, a mere 17 months after the first sheet metal cutting. Both ships were rapidly equipped with advanced systems and made ready for port acceptance tests. This remarkable achievement, launching two vessels from the same slipway within such a short timeframe and with such efficiency, marks a significant milestone in the Turkish defense industry.
The vessels will primarily undertake missions such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, search and rescue, counterterrorism, and maritime special operations. In addition, they will engage in secondary missions including naval air operations, electronic and acoustic warfare, land bombardment, defense against asymmetric threats, safeguarding maritime transportation, and providing support and training within the scope of amphibious operations.
Drawing upon the exterior design of the Ada Class Corvettes, these ships have been meticulously designed and manufactured to meet the specific needs of the Turkish Navy, with a strong emphasis on incorporating the latest technologies available in their class. Within the project, all engineering calculations and model testing have undergone revisions enabling the implementation of the most optimal solutions while remaining adaptable to evolving conditions. Notably, this project represents a historic milestone for Türkiye, as it witnessed the testing of a warship propeller within Turkish laboratories, with results rigorously cross-verified in collaboration with the propeller manufacturer.
The OPV project features a modular design that offers the flexibility to increase or modify the weapon load as needed. This flexibility enables the swift response to evolving requirements. To ensure this, a specific reserve of power has been allocated for potential needs in reserve areas, routes, and any additional power requirements that may arise.
Apart from its superior combat capabilities with its indigenous and national weapons, the Hisar Class is designed to excel in both reconnaissance/patrol missions and effectively counter asymmetric threats, thanks to its propulsion systems that enable cost-efficient, long-term patrolling. Furthermore, these Offshore Patrol Vessels are equipped with domestic sonar systems to provide support for the Ada-class corvettes, pivotal elements in anti-submarine warfare, thereby acting as a force multiplier for the Turkish Naval Forces. These ships, tasked with maintaining a strong maritime presence, will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Turkish Naval Forces in this regard.
Compared to typical OPV designs seen worldwide, the Hisar Class stands out due to its formidable firepower, a result of its corvette-based design.
The ships will have one MKEK 76mm main gun and two 12.7mm TARGAN RWSs as weapons. According to ASFAT however, the following weapons systems might be fitted on if the end user wishes: one ASELSAN GÖKDENIZ CIWS, 8 Hisar air defense missiles in VLS, 8 ATMACA anti-ship missile, 2 ASW rocket launcher with 6 rockets each. If all these mentioned weapons are fitted on board the HISAR class OPV they would be more heavily armed than ADA class corvettes thus defiling the logic of an OPV.
AKHISAR (P-1220) OPV will be delivered to the TNFC on 09 June 2024 and KOCHISAR (P-122) will be delivered on 09 October 2024 to the Turkish Naval Forces
