Babur-class corvette (PN MILGEM)

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Class overview
NameBabur-class
Builders
Operators Pakistan Navy
Built2019-present[2]
In commission2023-2028 (Expected) [1]
Planned4[2]
Building4[2]
General characteristics
TypeMulti-purpose corvette
Displacement2,888 t (2,842 long tons)
Length108.8 m (356 ft 11 in)
Beam14.8 m (48 ft 7 in)
Draught4.05 m (13 ft 3 in)
Installed power
PropulsionCODAG[2]
Speed27–31 knots (50–57 km/h; 31–36 mph) (Maximum)
Range3,500 nmi (6,500 km)[2]
Endurance15 days[3]
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)[3]
NotesPakistan-specific variant of Ada-class corvette[6]

The Babur-class corvette is a class of four heavy corvettes under construction for the Pakistan Navy. This class is designated from Turkish MILGEM project.[7][8][9] The corvette class is heavier and larger than the Turkish Ada-class corvette, also equipped with VLS.[8]

Instrumentation[]

Armament[]

  • Anti-surface warfare

As for its anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities, the corvettes feature two triple-cell launchers for six anti-ship missiles of an undisclosed designation.[10] 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.[11] The Harbah is an anti-ship variant of the Babur subsonic cruise missile, featuring an approximate range of 450–700 km (280–430 mi).[11]

  • Anti-air warfare

As for its anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities, the corvettes feature a 12-cell GWS-26 vertical launching system (VLS) configuration - according to illustrations of the vessels released by KSEW.[11] Opposingly, other illustrations of the corvettes released by INSY depict a 16-cell VLS arrangement at the bow.[12]

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).[13] However, in 2021 - the Pakistan Navy revealed that it had selected the Albatros NG surface-to-air missiles developed by MBDA, instead.[14] The Albatros NG - a variant of the CAMM-ER naval anti-air missile, features 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.[15] Incidentally, the PN MILGEM corvettes are also the first surface warships to utilize the Albatros NG.[14]

  • Anti-submarine warfare

As for its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the corvettes feature two 3-cell Mark 32 324 mm lightweight torpedo tubes, along with an anti-submarine helicopter.[3] Although the helicopter's designation is yet to divulged, it is believed that the corvettes may feature the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat.[10]

  • Guns

The corvettes feature one OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun, one Aselsan GOKDENIZ 35mm close-in weapon system and two Aselsan STOP 25mm remote weapon stations - for providing short-range point defense against both aerial and surface threats.[10]

Sensors[]

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

  • Radar

The PN MILGEM class is equipped with the SMART-S Mk2 passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, license manufactured by Aselsan.[3] The SMART-S Mk2 is a three-dimensional, multi-beam, long-range suraface/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.[16]

The class also features the Aselsan ALPER low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPI) - for detecting and tracking both aerial and surface targets.[17] The ALPER features an approximate range of 36 nmi (67 km).[18]

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]

  • Sonar

The corvettes feature the Meteksan YAKAMOS sonar system, as its primary sonar suite.[5] 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).[19]

  • Electronic warfare

As part of its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, the corvettes feature the Aselsan ARES-2N radar ESM system, along with ELINT and SIGINT modules.[10] 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.[20]

  • Tracking systems

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.[21]

In addition to the two aforementioned systems, the class is also equipped with the Northrop Grumman LN-270 INS/GPS navigation system, for providing geopositioning and turret stabilization.[22]

Ships of the class[]

Pennant Number Name Laid Down Launched Commissioned Status
Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY) -  Turkey
F280 Babur 4 June 2020[23] 15 August 2021[24]
(??) 1 May 2021[25]
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) -  Pakistan
(??) 25 October 2020[26]
(??) 5 November 2021[27]

See also[]

Ships of notable comparison and era

Other references to the Pakistan Navy

References[]

  1. ^ "Pakistan Navy's PN MILGEM Corvette Project ship PNS Babur launched". frontierindia.com. 16 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Turkish Shipyard launches the first PN MILGEM-class corvette for Pakistan". navalpost.com. 15 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "A Look At PN MILGEM/JINNAH Program". defenceturkey.com.
  4. ^ "Milgem-Class Corvettes: Pakistan Navy". defensetalks.com. 15 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Pakistan MİLGEM Program Hull-Mounted Sonar System Contract Signed". defenceturkey.com. 31 July 2019.
  6. ^ "First Pakistani Babur-class MILGEM Corvette Launched at Istanbul Shipyard". overtdefense.com. 17 August 2021.
  7. ^ "First Steel Cutting For Pakistan's Fourth And Final Jinnah-Class". Naval News. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Turkey Laid Keel Of Pakistan Navy's Third Jinnah-Class MILGEM Corvette". Naval News. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Pakistan Navy Change of Command Ceremony Held at PNS Zafar Islamabad - 07 October 2020". Pakistan Navy. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d "Pakistan Navy's Babur Class Corvettes". pakstrategic.com. 23 August 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "Pakistan's First MILGEM Corvette Launched – PNS Babur". quwa.org. 15 August 2021.
  12. ^ "MILGEM Corvette". quwa.org. 7 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Pakistan dumps Chinese missile for new warships, chooses European weapon?". theweek.in. 14 June 2021.
  14. ^ a b "PN MİLGEM Corvettes to Be Equipped with Albatros NG NBAD System!". defenceturkey.com. 12 June 2021.
  15. ^ "ALBATROS NG - NAVAL SURFACE-TO-AIR". mbda-systems.com.
  16. ^ "Smart-S Mk2". thalesgroup.com.
  17. ^ "Robust Antenna Solutions For Maritime Surveillance Radar". microwavejournal.com. 15 January 2012.
  18. ^ "ALPER Naval LPI Radar". en.defenceturk.net. 4 April 2020.
  19. ^ "YAKAMOS Hull Mounted Sonar System". meteksan.com.
  20. ^ "ARES-2N Naval Platform Radar ESM System". en.defenceturk.net. 4 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Babur Class Corvette - Systems". pbs.twimg.com.
  22. ^ "LN-270 INS/GPS Navigation and Pointing/Stabilization System (EGI)". datasheets.globalspec.com.
  23. ^ "Keel Laid For Pakistan Navy's First MILGEM Corvette". defenseworld.net. 8 June 2020.
  24. ^ "Turkey Launches First MILGEM Corvette for Pakistan". defenseworld.net. 16 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Turkey Laid Keel Of Pakistan Navy's Third Jinnah-Class MILGEM Corvette". navalnews.com. 6 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Karachi Shipyard Lays Keel of Pakistan Navy's Second MILGEM-Class Corvette". navalnews.com. 27 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Keel laid for Pakistan Navy's fourth Milgem-class corvette". janes.com. 9 November 2021.


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