The keel has been laid for the Pakistan Navy third MILGEM-class corvette during a ceremony held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited (KS&EW).
The keel has been laid for the Pakistan Navy’s third MILGEM-class corvette during a ceremony held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited (KS&EW).
The ceremony saw key defence officials from Pakistan and Turkey in attendance.
Director General Public Relations (DGPR) (Navy) said in a tweet: “Keel laying ceremony of MILGEM Class Corvette for #PN held at KS&EW. Minister of National Defence of Republic of Turkey, H.E Mr. Hulusi Akar was CG.
Speaking at the ceremony, Turkish Defence Minister Akar expressed his pleasure at being in Pakistan and underlined that the two countries’ “excellent” relations were unique due to their long history.
Ankara and Islamabad cooperate in many different domains, said Akar, adding: “Pakistani people, because of their invaluable support during our war of independence, have a special place in our hearts and minds. Turkish people will never forget the generosity of the Pakistani people with whom we’re always together both in good and bad times.
In October last year, GE Marine secured a contract to deliver LM2500 marine gas turbines to power Pakistan Navy’s new MILGEM multipurpose corvettes.
The contract was awarded by Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik Ve Ticaret (STM), the main propulsion system integrator for the ships.
In 2018, the Pakistan Navy signed a contract with Turkey’s ASFAT to procure four MILGEM-class corvettes from STM. Two of these will be constructed in Karachi, Pakistan.
DGPR (Navy) added: “It will be technologically the most advanced platforms equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and modern sensors.
