Pakistan Navy has commissioned its second MILGEM-class corvette, PNS Khaibar, during a ceremony held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, Türkiye. The event marks the entry of another advanced surface combatant into the Pakistan Navy Fleet and reflects a significant step forward in defence cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye.
The ceremony was attended by the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as Chief Guest, along with Pakistan’s Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf. Senior naval leadership, defence officials, project engineers, diplomats and representatives from ASFAT and OEM partners were also present.
In his remarks, President Erdoğan described Pakistan–Türkiye ties as rooted in history and trust. He referred to the commissioning of PNS Khaibar as evidence of growing collaboration in naval construction and defence production, adding that joint shipbuilding projects would continue to expand between the two countries.
Admiral Naveed Ashraf highlighted the effort put in by ASFAT, Istanbul Naval Shipyard and associated industrial teams in planning, fabrication, integration and commissioning. He stated that PNS Khaibar will strengthen Pakistan Navy’s operational readiness and further reinforce coordination between Pakistan Navy and Turkish Naval Forces in the maritime domain.
Following the formal commissioning, President Erdoğan visited the ship, interacted with officers and sailors, and inspected onboard systems. Discussions held between Turkish leadership and Pakistan Navy focused on regional maritime security, sea lines of communication, emerging maritime threats and prospective joint initiatives.
PNS Khaibar – Capability Overview
PNS Khaibar belongs to the MILGEM class, a modern surface combatant category designed for multi-role missions in the open sea. The ship features low-observability shaping, high-accuracy sensors, integrated combat management systems and upgraded weapon configurations for surveillance, escort, anti-air and anti-surface operations.
Developed under the 2018 shipbuilding agreement between Pakistan and Türkiye, the MILGEM programme includes four corvettes: two built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard and two at Karachi Shipyard. The project has provided Pakistan with extensive exposure to modern naval ship design, assembly processes, systems testing and platform integration.
Industrial Cooperation and Transfer of Technology
The MILGEM initiative has played an important role in building Pakistan’s shipbuilding capacity. The transfer of technical documentation, production methods and engineering expertise through this programme supports Pakistan’s long-term objective of strengthening its naval industry and reducing external reliance.
For Türkiye, the project underlines ASFAT’s ship construction capability and contributes to the growth of its defence export footprint. The success of the programme also reinforces the position of Turkish shipyards as established maritime industrial centres.
Fleet Modernisation – Broader Context
Induction of PNS Khaibar is part of Pakistan Navy’s wider fleet modernisation effort, which focuses on capability enhancement across multiple domains. Presently, Pakistan Navy is advancing various surface, aviation and submarine platforms to strengthen regional maritime security and expand operational depth. Recent major additions and projects include:
- Tughril-class guided missile frigates
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Modernised maritime patrol aircraft
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UAV systems
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Upgraded coastal defence infrastructure
These developments are intended to reinforce Pakistan Navy’s ability to counter evolving maritime threats, support multinational operations, maintain surveillance over sea routes and ensure credible presence across the North Arabian Sea and adjoining waters.
Regional Significance
The commissioning of PNS Khaibar holds operational value against the backdrop of increasing maritime competition, rising security pressures in nearby sea lanes, and the expanding role of naval forces in regional stability. The new platform will support escort missions, surveillance tasks, combined naval deployments and wider security operations — contributing to Pakistan’s maritime interests and cooperative security frameworks.
Bilateral Relationship
Completion of both Turkish-built ships under the MILGEM programme strengthens naval and industrial coordination between Türkiye and Pakistan. As construction continues on the two remaining ships in Pakistan, cooperation is expected to widen into training, systems development and future maritime projects. The commissioning of PNS Khaibar therefore serves not only as a fleet addition, but also as a strategic indicator of continued defence engagement between the two nations.
