Pakistan Navy to Receive Turkish-Built Warship Soon

A warship built in Turkiye’s for the Pakistan Navy under the PN MILGEM project has successfully completed live-fire tests, marking a significant milestone in one of Turkiye’s most ambitious naval export programs. According to a Monday report, this Turkish-built warship demonstrated exceptional technological maturity, system integration capabilities, and operational reliability during comprehensive trials. The successful completion of these tests for the Turkish-built warship brings Pakistan closer to receiving its second advanced MILGEM-class corvette, strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and showcasing Turkiye’s growing prowess in modern naval shipbuilding and combat systems integration.

Tests Confirm Multi-Domain Strength

The PNS Khaibar, the second of four MILGEM-class corvettes specifically tailored for Pakistan’s operational requirements, successfully engaged sea, land, and aerial targets with pinpoint accuracy during recent trials, according to Anadolu Agency reporting. These comprehensive evaluations tested the vessel’s ability to operate effectively across multiple combat domains simultaneously, demonstrating the flexibility and lethality essential for modern naval operations. The successful engagement of diverse target types confirms the ship’s readiness for complex maritime security missions.

Naval Cooperation Strengthened

The 2020 agreement between Ankara and Islamabad established an ambitious framework for constructing four MILGEM-class corvettes through a collaborative production arrangement. Under this structure, two vessels are being built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard in Turkiye, while two additional ships are under construction at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) in Pakistan. Türkiye’s ASFAT serves as the main contractor, coordinating the complex international production effort and ensuring quality standards across both construction sites.

Advanced Combat Systems

Defense software and electronics firm Havelsan provides the sophisticated ADVENT Combat Management System and FLEETSTAR Ship Data Distribution System, while simultaneously serving as the project’s main systems integrator. These integrated systems enable seamless coordination between sensors, weapons, and command elements, providing operators with comprehensive situational awareness and rapid response capabilities. Havelsan’s role as systems integrator ensures all components function cohesively as a unified combat platform rather than isolated subsystems.

First Vessel Successfully Joins Pakistan Fleet

The project’s initial ship, PNS Babur, successfully completed its firing tests in April 2024 and formally joined the Pakistan Navy fleet the following month, establishing operational precedent for subsequent vessels. The rapid transition from testing to operational deployment demonstrated the program’s efficiency and the corvette design’s maturity. PNS Babur’s successful integration provides valuable operational experience that will inform training and deployment strategies for subsequent ships.

Joint Activities Precede Final Delivery

Following its successful test completion, PNS Khaibar will now conduct joint activities with the Turkish Navy before sailing to Karachi for final acceptance procedures. These collaborative exercises provide Pakistani crews with advanced training while allowing Turkish naval professionals to share operational expertise. The joint activities also serve as final validation that all systems perform correctly under realistic operational conditions before the vessel transfers to Pakistani control.

Precision Weapon Systems

During live-fire trials, the ship’s 76mm main gun scored direct hits on designated land targets, demonstrating effective naval gunfire support capabilities for amphibious and coastal operations. The STOP 25mm remote-controlled stabilized gun system achieved similar precision in surface target engagements, confirming its effectiveness against small boats and surface threats. These successful weapons demonstrations validate the integration of Turkish-made armament systems with the vessel’s combat management architecture.

Program Shows Tech Readiness

The test results clearly demonstrated the technological maturity, integration success, and operational reliability of the PN MILGEM program, according to the report. This comprehensive validation confirms that Turkish shipbuilders and systems integrators have successfully adapted the MILGEM design for Pakistan’s specific operational requirements. The program’s success establishes Turkiye as a credible supplier of advanced naval platforms to international customers seeking capable, cost-effective surface combatants.

Third Vessel Approaches Sea Trial Milestone

Construction of the third vessel, PNS Badr, is in its final stages at the Karachi shipyard, with its first sea trials expected this December, followed by port acceptance tests. This accelerated construction timeline at the Pakistani facility demonstrates successful technology transfer and local shipbuilding capability development. The progress on PNS Badr confirms that Karachi Shipyard has effectively absorbed the knowledge and techniques necessary for complex modern warship construction.

Final Corvette Completion Targets Late 2026

The fourth and final corvette, PNS Tariq, is also under construction at KSEW, with testing activities scheduled to begin by late 2026, marking the completion of one of Türkiye’s most significant naval export projects. The staggered construction and delivery schedule ensures sustained production activity while allowing each ship to benefit from lessons learned during previous vessels’ construction and testing. Upon completion, the four-ship class will substantially enhance Pakistan Navy’s capability to conduct maritime security operations, anti-submarine warfare, and surface combat missions across its areas of responsibility.

Also read this: Turkiye’s Deploys New Indigenous Kamikaze Drone

Strategic Implications for Regional Naval Balance

The successful MILGEM program represents more than just a naval acquisition it symbolizes deepening defense industrial cooperation between Turkiye and Pakistan, two important Muslim-majority nations seeking greater defense independence. For Pakistan, these corvettes provide modern surface combatants with advanced sensors and weapons at competitive prices compared to Western alternatives. For Turkiye, the program demonstrates its shipbuilding industry’s maturity and ability to compete internationally in sophisticated naval platforms, opening doors for future export opportunities across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Keep connected with us at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram & TikTok for latest defense happening around the globe.