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Babur-class corvette

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Class overview
NameBabur class
Builders
OperatorsPakistan Navy
Built2019–present[1]
Planned4
Building3
Completed1
Active1
General characteristics
TypeMulti-purpose corvette
Displacement3,000 tons
Length108.8m
Beam14.8m
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]

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]

Equipment

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Armament

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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]

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 has 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] The PN MILGEM corvettes are the first surface warships to utilize Albatros NG.[12]

As for its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the corvettes feature two three-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 carry the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat.[9]

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

Sensors

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

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).[citation needed]

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]

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]

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, 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

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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Turkish Shipyard launches the first PN MILGEM-class corvette for Pakistan". navalpost.com. 15 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "A Look At PN MILGEM/JINNAH Program". defenceturkey.com.
  3. ^ "Milgem-Class Corvettes: Pakistan Navy". defensetalks.com. 15 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d "Pakistan Navy's Babur Class Corvettes". pakstrategic.com. 23 August 2021.
  10. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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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