Turkey Delivers Corvette to Pakistan and Launches Offshore Patrol Vessels for Turkish Navy

September 24, 2023 2:01 pm

Islamabad: In a significant development for naval cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan, a delivery ceremony for a corvette and the launch of two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) took place. The ceremony was attended by Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler and his Pakistani counterpart Anwar Ali Hayder, along with other senior naval officers and representatives from Turkish defense companies.

During the ceremony, Defense Minister Yasar Güler highlighted the historic significance of the simultaneous construction of four corvettes and two offshore patrol vessels in Istanbul and Karachi shipyards as part of Pakistan’s MİLGEM project. He emphasized that this collaboration marks a significant milestone for the Turkish Republic and the defense industry.

Minister Güler also underscored the strengthening bilateral relations between Turkey and Pakistan in various fields and emphasized that defense industry projects are a crucial pillar of their cooperation.

The Pakistan Navy MİLGEM (National Ship) program involves the construction of four ships, with two being built at Istanbul Shipyard Command and the other two at KS&EW. The primary contractor for the project is the Turkish Ministry of Defence-owned ASFAT Inc. Deliveries of the ships, capable of performing various military duties from air defense to submarine defense, are expected at six-month intervals starting from August 2023.

The exact configuration of the PN MİLGEM-class ships has not been disclosed, but they are expected to be armed with advanced systems such as the Albatros NG air defense system and Harbah Anti-ship and land attack missiles.

The OPVs, known as the Hisar-class, are part of the Offshore Patrol Vessel Project initiated to meet the needs of the Turkish Naval Forces. The first ship in this project is scheduled to be launched in 2023. These vessels will be capable of various missions, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, counterterrorism, search and rescue, and more.

The Hisar-class OPVs are being built with a “fitted for but not with” concept, allowing for the integration of indigenous weapon and sensor systems. The OPVs will be well-equipped, with potential armaments including anti-ship missiles, a vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles, a close-in weapon system, a 76-mm gun, and a missile launcher.

This development signifies the strong defense and naval collaboration between Turkey and Pakistan, further enhancing both nations’ capabilities and security in the maritime domain.