Pakistan’s naval chief Admiral Amjad Niazi describes Turkish-made MILGEM ships as “very capable platforms, equipped with surface-to-air weapon systems.” These ships will strengthen Pakistan’s defence capabilities.
ISTANBUL – The Chief of the Turkish Navy’s Naval Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi stated that the addition of Turkish-made, state-of-the-art MILGEM-class ships will provide a “great boost to our defence” and will keep the country’s adversaries at bay.
Weakness is an open invitation to assault, but strength can keep an adversary at distance. The inclusion of ships of the MILGEM class will therefore greatly enhance the Pakistan Navy in a very big degree, the head of the Pakistan Navy’s naval forces stated in an exclusive interview with the Anadolu Agency in Istanbul.
On Friday, Niazi was in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul to attend the inauguration ceremony of the PNS Khaiber, which is the third of four MILGEM corvette ships that Türkiye has produced for the Pakistan Navy at the Istanbul Shipyard.
The launch event was attended by senior military leaders from both Turkey and Pakistan, including the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif.
According to Niazi, the ships that make up the MILGEM fleet are “extremely capable platforms” that are armed with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air weapon systems.
He added that “inclusion of these ships will be a major boost for the defence needs of Pakistan in general and the Pakistan Navy in particular” because the vessels in question are equipped with cutting-edge equipment.
In July of 2018, a contract was reached between the Pakistan Navy and Turkey’s state-owned defence company ASFAT for the purchase of four ships of the MILGEM-class.
In accordance with the terms of the deal, two of the four corvettes will be constructed in Turkey, while the remaining two will be constructed in Pakistan. This will also involve a transfer of knowledge between the two nations.
The length of a MILGEM vessel is 99 metres (325 feet), it has the capacity to displace 2,400 tonnes, and it can travel at a speed of 29 nautical miles.
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“These ships will be a very good addition to our fleet, ensuring that our (territorial) waters are safe, and that our defence needs are met,” was what the Chief of Naval Operations had to say about MILGEM, describing it as a “truly collaborative military production” and adding that it would help meet the country’s defence requirements.
Niazi, while praising the bilateral relationships between the two countries, stated that “Pakistan and Türkiye have had lengthy connections that are founded on mutual trust, friendliness, and principles.”
“The two countries have stood by each other in times of need, and we have stood by each other on all international events as well as the challenges that the two countries confront,” he continued. “We have stood by each other on all issues that the two countries face.”
“This MILGEM project is a testament to this fact,” he said, adding, “I have no doubt in my mind that such efforts will continue, and Pakistan and Türkiye are well on their way to becoming ‘two countries and one nation.'” “The two countries have come much closer in the defence arena in the recent past as this MILGEM project is a testament to this fact,” he said.
He stated the following in response to a query regarding growing defence cooperation between the two countries: “Both military are continuously exchanging knowledge and skills.” This strong friendship and military cooperation is evidenced by the construction and upgrading projects that have been completed, such as the 17,000 Ton Fleet Tanker, the PN-MILGEM and Agosta 90B submarines, the Super Mushak trainers, the UAV drones, and so on.
He stated that both parties are “extensively involved in broad-based engagements ranging from high-level visits to operational-level knowledge sharing and training collaboration.” He said that these engagements range from high-level visits to operational-level knowledge sharing and training collaboration.
The first corvette ship of the Pakistan Navy, the PNS Babar, was commissioned in Istanbul in August 2021, while the cornerstone for the second ship, the PNS Badr, was placed in Karachi in May of this year.
Turkey is one of only ten countries in the world that is able to design, construct, and maintain military vessels using only resources from within the country.
