Babur-class corvette

The Babur-class corvette, also known as the PN MILGEM class, is a class of four heavy corvettes under construction for the Pakistan Navy. This class is a subclass of the Turkish MILGEM project.[6][7][8] The corvette class is heavier and larger than the Turkish Ada-class corvette and are also equipped with VLS.[7]

Class overview
NameBabur class
Builders
Operators Pakistan Navy
Built2019–present[1]
Planned4[1]
Building3[1]
Completed1
Active1
General characteristics
TypeMulti-purpose corvette
Displacement2,888 t (2,842 long tons)
Length108.8 m (356 ft 11 in)
Beam14.8 m (48 ft 7 in)
Draught4.05 m (13 ft 3 in)
Installed power
PropulsionCODAG[1]
Speed27–31 knots (50–57 km/h; 31–36 mph) (Maximum)
Range3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi)[1]
Endurance15 days[2]
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Aselsan ARES-2NC Radar ESM
Armament
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck with enclosed aviation hangar, for 1 anti-submarine helicopter (presumably the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat)[2]
NotesPakistan-specific variant of Ada-class corvette[5]

Instrumentation

Armament
  • Anti-surface warfare

For its anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities, the corvettes feature two triple-cell launchers for six anti-ship missiles of an undisclosed designation.[9] Although the missiles-in-question are yet to divulged, it is believed that they may actually be the Harbah anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM), currently in service with the Pakistan Navy.[10] The Harbah is an anti-ship variant of the Babur subsonic cruise missile, featuring an approximate range of 450–700 km (280–430 mi).[10]

  • Anti-air warfare

As for its anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities, the corvettes feature a 12-cell GWS-26 vertical launching system (VLS) configuration.[10]

Initially, the corvettes were selected to feature the Chinese-origin HHQ-16 surface-to-air missiles, developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC).[11] However, in 2021 - the Pakistan Navy revealed that it had selected the Albatros NG surface-to-air missiles developed by MBDA, instead.[12] The Albatros NG - a variant of the CAMM-ER naval anti-air missile, features an approximate range of over 40 km (25 mi), with the capability to neutralize various aerial threats - including anti-ship missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and precision-guided munitions.[13] Incidentally, the PN MILGEM corvettes are also the first surface warships to utilize the Albatros NG.[12]

  • Anti-submarine warfare

As for its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the corvettes feature two 3-cell Mark 32 324 mm lightweight torpedo tubes, along with an anti-submarine helicopter.[2] Although the helicopter's designation is yet to divulged, it is believed that the corvettes may feature the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat.[9]

  • Guns

The corvettes feature one OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun, one Aselsan GOKDENIZ 35 mm close-in weapon system and two Aselsan STOP 25 mm remote weapon stations - for providing short-range point defense against both aerial and surface threats.[9]

Sensors

In a parallel fashion to the Ada-class corvettes, the Babur class feature similar radar equipment, including :-

  • Radar

The PN MILGEM class is equipped with the SMART-S Mk2 passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, license manufactured by Aselsan.[2] The SMART-S Mk2 is a three-dimensional, multi-beam, long-range surface/aerial surveillance radar, featuring an azimuth of 360o, with the capability to track both aerial and surface targets - at ranges of approximately 250 km (160 mi) and 80 km (50 mi), respectively.[14]

The class also features the Aselsan ALPER low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPI) - for detecting and tracking both aerial and surface targets.[15] The ALPER features an approximate range of 36 nmi (67 km).[16]

In addition to the SMART-S Mk2 and the ALPER, the corvettes are also equipped with the AKREP (AKR-D Block B-1/2) fire-control radar (FCR) - capable of tracking and providing target information over an approximate range of 120 km (75 mi).

  • Sonar

The corvettes feature the Meteksan YAKAMOS sonar system, as its primary sonar suite.[4] The YAKAMOS is a hull-mounted, medium-frequency anti-submarine/obstacle-avoidance sonar, capable of detecting sub-surface targets within an azimuth of 360o azimuth over a range of 230 km (140 mi).[17]

  • Electronic warfare

As part of its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, the corvettes feature the Aselsan ARES-2N radar ESM system, along with ELINT and SIGINT modules.[9] The ARES-2N is a long-range electronic support system, capable of detecting, intercepting, classifying, tracking and recording electromagnetic emissions of various targets, over an operating frequency of 2-18 GHz.[18]

  • Tracking systems

As part of its tracking capabilities, the PN MILGEM class features the Aselsan SeaEye-AHTAPOT electro-optical surveillance system (EO) - capable of tracking targets at a range of 250 km (160 mi) and the Aselsan PIRI infrared search and track (IRST) system - capable of tracking 150 targets simultaneously, over an azimuth of 360o.[19]

In addition to the two aforementioned systems, the class is also equipped with the Northrop Grumman LN-270 INS/GPS navigation system, for providing geopositioning and turret stabilization.[20]

Ships of the class
Pennant number Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY)
F280 Babur 4 June 2020[21] 15 August 2021[22] 23 September 2023[23] Active
F282 Khyber 1 May 2021[24] 25 November 2022[25] Launched
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW)
F281 Badr 25 October 2020[26] 20 May 2022[27] Launched
F283 Tariq 5 November 2021[28] 2 August 2023[29] Launched

See also

Ships of notable comparison and era

Other references to the Pakistan Navy

References
  1. "Turkish Shipyard launches the first PN MILGEM-class corvette for Pakistan". navalpost.com. 15 August 2021.
  2. "A Look At PN MILGEM/JINNAH Program". defenceturkey.com.
  3. "Milgem-Class Corvettes: Pakistan Navy". defensetalks.com. 15 August 2021.
  4. "Pakistan MİLGEM Program Hull-Mounted Sonar System Contract Signed". defenceturkey.com. 31 July 2019.
  5. "First Pakistani Babur-class MILGEM Corvette Launched at Istanbul Shipyard". overtdefense.com. 17 August 2021.
  6. "First Steel Cutting For Pakistan's Fourth And Final Jinnah-Class". Naval News. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  7. "Turkey Laid Keel Of Pakistan Navy's Third Jinnah-Class MILGEM Corvette". Naval News. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  8. "Pakistan Navy Change of Command Ceremony Held at PNS Zafar Islamabad - 07 October 2020". Pakistan Navy. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  9. "Pakistan Navy's Babur Class Corvettes". pakstrategic.com. 23 August 2021.
  10. "Pakistan's First MILGEM Corvette Launched – PNS Babur". quwa.org. 15 August 2021.
  11. "Pakistan dumps Chinese missile for new warships, chooses European weapon?". theweek.in. 14 June 2021.
  12. "PN MİLGEM Corvettes to Be Equipped with Albatros NG NBAD System!". defenceturkey.com. 12 June 2021.
  13. "ALBATROS NG - NAVAL SURFACE-TO-AIR". mbda-systems.com.
  14. "Smart-S Mk2". thalesgroup.com.
  15. "Robust Antenna Solutions For Maritime Surveillance Radar". microwavejournal.com. 15 January 2012.
  16. "ALPER Naval LPI Radar". en.defenceturk.net. 4 April 2020.
  17. "YAKAMOS Hull Mounted Sonar System". meteksan.com.
  18. "ARES-2N Naval Platform Radar ESM System". en.defenceturk.net. 4 April 2020.
  19. "Babur Class Corvette - Systems". pbs.twimg.com.
  20. "LN-270 INS/GPS Navigation and Pointing/Stabilization System (EGI)". datasheets.globalspec.com.
  21. "Keel Laid For Pakistan Navy's First MILGEM Corvette". defenseworld.net. 8 June 2020.
  22. "Turkey Launches First MILGEM Corvette for Pakistan". defenseworld.net. 16 August 2021.
  23. "Turkey delivers warship to Pakistan: PNS BABUR" (in Turkish). 23 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  24. "Turkey Laid Keel Of Pakistan Navy's Third Jinnah-Class MILGEM Corvette". navalnews.com. 6 May 2021.
  25. "Istanbul Naval Shipyard Launches MILGEM Corvette "PNS KHAIBAR" For Pakistan Navy". 25 October 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  26. "Karachi Shipyard Lays Keel of Pakistan Navy's Second MILGEM-Class Corvette". navalnews.com. 27 October 2020.
  27. "Pakistan's MILGEM Corvette 'PNS BADR' Launched In Karachi". 20 May 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  28. "Keel laid for Pakistan Navy's fourth Milgem-class corvette". janes.com. 9 November 2021.
  29. "Pakistan Launches 4th PN MILGEM Corvette PNS TARIQ (283)". 2 August 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
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