Construction begins on Pakistan Navy’s first locally-built MILGEM corvette

Pakistani state-owned shipbuilder Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) recently held a steel-cutting ceremony to mark the start of construction of a new warship for the country’s navy.

The vessel will be one of four MILGEM corvettes slated for the Pakistan Navy and will be the first of two in its class to be built in Pakistan. The remaining two corvettes will be assembled in Turkey by defence firm Askeri Fabrika ve Tersane (ASFAT).

Originally developed by ASFAT for the Turkish Navy, the MILGEM corvettes will be capable of anti-surface, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare.

The vessels will be known as the Jinnah-class in Pakistani service.