The Pakistan Navy is set to enhance its naval defense capabilities with two new warships on Defence Day (September 6). According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Babur and PNS Hunain will officially join the fleet.
PNS Babur, the first in the Milgem/Babur-class series, has been constructed in Turkey as part of a bilateral defense agreement between Pakistan and Turkey. This advanced warship, which began construction on June 4, 2020, was launched on August 15, 2023, and will now be commissioned into the Navy’s operational fleet.
The Babur-class ships, including PNS Babur, are designed with sophisticated vertical launching systems, enabling them to engage threats from the air, surface, and underwater. Four ships of this class are being built, with two in Istanbul and the remaining two in Karachi. The additional ships—PNS Badr, Tariq, and Khyber—are currently under construction.
Simultaneously, PNS Hunain, the third vessel of the Yarmouk-class offshore patrol series, constructed in Romania, will also be integrated into the Navy’s fleet. These patrol vessels, classified as guided missile corvettes, are notable for their versatility in surface and air combat, as well as search and rescue missions.
The PNS Hunain, measuring 98 meters in length and with a top speed of 24 knots, is equipped with a vertical launching system capable of deploying surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun, and two 20 mm secondary guns.
The Yarmouk-class vessels, which include PNS Yarmouk, Tabuk, and now Hunain, are named after significant battles in Islamic history and represent the growing strength of Pakistan’s naval forces. The final ship in this series, PNS Yamama, is currently in the final stages of construction and is expected to join the fleet soon.
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