Keel laying of 1st MILGEM class corvette for PN held at Turkey

ISLAMABAD: The keel laying ceremony of 1st MILGEM Class Corvette for Pakistan Navy was held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY), Turkey.

Chief Naval Overseas (Turkey), Commodore Syed Rizwan Khalid graced the occasion as chief guest. The contract for four corvettes for Pakistan Navy with Transfer of Technology (ToT) was signed with ASFAT (Turkish state owned Defence Firm). The contract entails construction of two corvettes at Turkey while two at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW). Construction of corvettes in Pakistan is aimed to provide impetus to local ship building 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. These ships 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.