(Karachi) The keel-laying ceremony of first MILGEM Class Corvette for Pakistan Navy was held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY), Turkey on Thursday. Chief Naval Overseas (Turkey), Commodore Syed Rizwan Khalid graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

The state-of-the-art ship will be equipped with modern weaponry and sensors. Under the transfer of technology agreement signed between Pakistan and Turkey, two of the four ships will be constructed at Karachi shipyard.

The PN will receive its first two MILGEM ships in 2023 and the last two by 2025.

A spokesperson of Pakistan Navy said that the domestic construction of the ships will help promote shipbuilding industry. He added the construction of MILGEM-class ships reflects the strong bonds that exist between Pakistan and Turkey.

The MILGEM Class Corvettes will be state-of-the-art Surface platform equipped with a 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 the Indian Ocean Region.

The corvettes are armed with a 76-millimeter gun, missiles and torpedoes. The ship is capable of carrying Sikorsky S-70 helicopter or unmanned aircraft, along with the associated armaments, 20 tons of JP-5 aircraft fuel, aerial refuelling systems and maintenance facilities.