Turkiye’s ASFAT delivers 1st MILGEM corvette to Pakistan, launches Turkish OPV duo

Turkish defence contractor ASFAT has delivered the first MILGEM (Babur-class) corvette to the Pakistan Navy, and launched two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Turkish Navy.

As informed, the delivery ceremony of PN Babur (F-280) took place at Istanbul Naval Shipyard on 23 September. On the same day, the company launched two OPVs of Hisar class, AKHİSAR (P-1220) and KOÇHİSAR (P-1221).

The ships built will perform the basic tasks of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, search and rescue, fight against terrorism, maritime surveillance operations and maritime special operations.

Pakistan Navy’s first Babur-class corvette was launched back in 2021. The contract for four Milgem-class corvettes for Pakistan Navy was signed in 2018. Under the contract, two ships were to be constructed at Istanbul Naval Shipyard and the other two at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works.