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| Foto:Presiden Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,ISTANBUL – In a significant ceremony at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, the Pakistan Navy formally commissioned the PNS KHAIBAR (F-282), a major addition to its fleet and a testament to the deepening strategic partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye. The ship is the second of four state-of-the-art BABUR (PN MILGEM) Class Corvettes built under a historic collaboration between the two nations.
The commissioning ceremony was graced by the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, alongside senior Pakistani officials including Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi. President Erdoğan’s attendance underscored the high strategic importance both countries attach to this defense partnership.
In his address, President Erdoğan hailed the event as a milestone symbolizing the "brotherly ties and robust cooperation" between Türkiye and Pakistan. "The delivery of PNS KHAIBAR is not merely a transfer of a warship; it is a concrete manifestation of our shared resolve to ensure regional peace and security," he stated. He emphasized that the MILGEM project represents the pinnacle of Turkish defense engineering and a shining example of how collaboration between Muslim nations can achieve self-reliance in critical technologies.
PNS KHAIBAR is the second vessel in the class, following PNS BABUR (F-280), which was commissioned in 2022. These corvettes are among the most advanced platforms in the Pakistan Navy, designed for versatility across a wide spectrum of naval operations.
Key capabilities include:
· Advanced Anti-Surface Warfare: Armed with a powerful array of surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles.
· Stealth Technology: Featuring a reduced radar cross-section for enhanced survivability.
· Indigenous Combat System: The third and fourth ships of the class will be fitted with Pakistan’s own Vertical Launch System (VLS), capable of firing long-range cruise missiles, including the indigenous Harbah anti-ship/land-attack missile and potentially the Babur cruise missile. This integration marks a critical step in Pakistan's naval strategic strike capability.
· Anti-Submarine & Electronic Warfare: Equipped with modern torpedoes, ASW rockets, and sophisticated electronic warfare suites.
The induction of PNS KHAIBAR significantly enhances the Pakistan Navy's blue-water operational capability, bolstering its role in safeguarding vital sea lanes in the Arabian Sea and beyond. The MILGEM project, which involves technology transfer and joint construction with two ships built in Istanbul and two at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) is a cornerstone of Pakistan's naval modernization program, Project AZM.
Analysts view this collaboration as a strategic alignment that goes beyond defense hardware. It fosters long-term interdependence, with Türkiye gaining a reliable partner in a key region and Pakistan accessing cutting-edge naval technology and expertise.
The ceremony concluded with the hoisting of the Pakistan Navy’s ensign on PNS KHAIBAR, marking its official entry into active service. As the ship sails to join the Pakistan Fleet, it carries with it not just formidable firepower but also the solidified bond of a strategic partnership poised to shape regional maritime dynamics.