Pakistan strengthens navy with second Turkish-built Milgem warship

The Pakistan Navy has formally inducted its second Milgem-class corvette, PNS Khaibar, into service, according to a statement issued by the navy’s public relations department on Saturday, April 4.

The vessel is the second of four Milgem-class corvettes ordered under a 2018 contract signed with ASFAT Inc, a Turkish state-owned defence contractor. Under the agreement, two ships are being constructed in Türkiye, while the remaining two are being built in Pakistan, as per Pakistani media.

Speaking at the induction ceremony, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf underscored the strategic importance of Pakistan’s geographic position along key maritime trade and energy routes, stressing the need for a capable naval force to protect national interests and ensure secure sea lines of communication (SLOCs).

The naval chief also referred to last year’s conflict with India, stating that the Pakistan Navy had been “poised to sink” an Indian Navy aircraft carrier, prompting the vessel and its accompanying ships to withdraw to what he described as their “perceived safe havens.”

“The mastery and conduct of naval operations during Marka-i-Haq delivers an unequivocal message that any attempt to challenge Pakistan’s maritime interests will be met with an appropriate response,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Admiral Ashraf further emphasized that the navy is being equipped with “state-of-the-art” platforms and specialized technologies, enhancing its ability to target “critical infrastructure and naval assets of the adversary.”

The commissioning ceremony for PNS Khaibar was held earlier at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard in December 2025. During that event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlighted the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation in defence production between Türkiye and Pakistan.

Separately, the construction milestone for the third Milgem-class ship was marked in January 2021, when Erdoğan initiated the welding process at the shipyard.

By Tamilla Hasanova