Keel-laying of first MILGEM-class corvette for Pakistan Navy held in Turkey
The keel-laying ceremony of the first of four MILGEM Ada-class corvettes to be built by Turkey for Pakistan Navy was held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY), Turkey.
The ceremony was held at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY). Senior defense and military officials of the two countries, including Pakistan’s Chief Naval Overseas Commodore Syed Rizwan Khalid attended the ceremony.
Commodore Khalid said the project is the manifestation of strong relations between Pakistan and Turkey.
Pakistan’s Defense Ministry signed the contract for four corvettes with Transfer of Technology (ToT) with ASFAT (Turkish state-owned defense firm) in 2018.
The first two warships will be built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard while the other two will be constructed at Karachi shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW).
The fourth warship will be the first indigenously designed and constructed Frigate and will be designed jointly by Pakistan’s Maritime Technologies Complex (MTC). Construction of corvettes in Pakistan aims to boost local shipbuilding industry and further enhance KS&EW capabilities.
“The MILGEM Class Corvettes will be state-of-the-art Surface platform equipped with modern surface, subsurface and anti-air weapons, sensors and Combat Management System” Pakistan Navy statement reads.
These warships will be among the most technologically advanced platforms of Pakistan Navy and will significantly contribute in maintaining peace, stability and balance of power in Indian Ocean Region, the officials said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Rizwan appreciated the MILGEM project for its construction standards and also acknowledged the professional competence of the Turkish Defence Firm and Istanbul Naval Shipyard for their efforts in meeting the timelines despite the global crisis of COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials of Pakistan Navy, dignitaries and representatives of ASFAT, Istanbul Naval Shipyard and Turkish Lloyd attended the ceremony.