Four MILGEM Ada class corvettes to be built by Turkey for the Pakistan Navy
The keel laying ceremony of 2nd MILGEM class corvette for Pakistan Navy (PN) was held at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW).
Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Turkey, H.E Mr. Hulusi Akar, Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production, Ms Zubaida Jalal and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi attended the ceremony.
In 2018, Pakistan’s navy signed a contract for the acquisition of four MILGEM-class ships with Turkey’s state-owned defense firm ASFAT.
Hulusi Akar, the chief guest of the ceremony, termed keel laying of PN MILGEM corvette as a “historic event for Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan Navy, KS&EW and ASFAT of Turkey.” He appreciated the commitment and dedication of ASFAT and KS&EW for the construction of technologically advanced corvette. He added that Turkey appreciates and supports Pakistan’s principle stance over Azerbaijan right of self-defence and Kashmir issue.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Defence Production Ms Zubaida Jalal appreciated the performance of Karachi Shipyard and underlined that “indigenization is forefront of Pakistan’s policy” adding that reassuring to see state of the art warship is being built in Pakistan.
Construction of corvettes in Pakistan is aimed to provide impetus to local ship building industry and to further enhance KS&EW capabilities.
The MILGEM class corvettes will be one of the most technologically advanced stealth surface platforms of the Pakistan Navy fleet. The vessel is equipped with state of the art weapons & modern sensors including surface to surface, surface to air missiles, anti-submarine weapons and Command & Control system.
“Induction of these ship in Pakistan Navy would significantly add to the lethality of Pakistan Navy’s capabilities and contribute in maintaining peace, security and balance of power in Indian Ocean Region” an official statement said.
Managing Director of KS&EW, Rear Admiral Ather Saleem, highlighted that Karachi Shipyard is fully cognizant and aligned with the goals set forth by the Government and Pakistan Navy to pursue self-reliance in defence shipbuilding industry.
The “deep rooted friendship with brotherly country Turkey for this mega project will open new vistas of further cooperation in the field of indigenous warship construction and other defence sectors in Pakistan.”
The 2nd MILGEM class corvette will be delivered in the early half of 2024.