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The Babur-class corvette, also known as the PN MILGEM class, is a class of four heavy corvettes under construction for the Pakistan Navy. This class is a subclass of the Turkish MILGEM project.[6][7][8] The corvette class is heavier and larger than the Turkish Ada-class corvette and are also equipped with VLS.[7]
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Babur class |
| Builders |
|
| Operators | Pakistan Navy |
| Built | 2019–present[1] |
| Planned | 4[1] |
| Building | 3[1] |
| Completed | 1 |
| Active | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Multi-purpose corvette |
| Displacement | 2,888 t (2,842 long tons) |
| Length | 108.8 m (356 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 14.8 m (48 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | CODAG[1] |
| Speed | 27–31 knots (50–57 km/h; 31–36 mph) (Maximum) |
| Range | 3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi)[1] |
| Endurance | 15 days[2] |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | Aselsan ARES-2NC Radar ESM |
| Armament |
|
| Aviation facilities | Flight deck with enclosed aviation hangar, for 1 anti-submarine helicopter (presumably the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat)[2] |
| Notes | Pakistan-specific variant of Ada-class corvette[5] |
Armament
For its anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities, the corvettes feature two triple-cell launchers for six anti-ship missiles of an undisclosed designation.[9] 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.[10] The Harbah is an anti-ship variant of the Babur subsonic cruise missile, featuring an approximate range of 450–700 km (280–430 mi).[10]
As for its anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities, the corvettes feature a 12-cell GWS-26 vertical launching system (VLS) configuration.[10]
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).[11] However, in 2021 - the Pakistan Navy revealed that it had selected the Albatros NG surface-to-air missiles developed by MBDA, instead.[12] The Albatros NG - a variant of the CAMM-ER naval anti-air missile has 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.[13] The PN MILGEM corvettes are the first surface warships to utilize Albatros NG.[12]
As for its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the corvettes feature two three-cell Mark 32 324 mm lightweight torpedo tubes, along with an anti-submarine helicopter.[2] Although the helicopter's designation is yet to divulged, it is believed that the corvettes may carry the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat.[9]
The corvettes have one OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun, one 35 mm Aselsan GOKDENIZ close-in weapon system and two 25mm Aselsan STOP remote weapon stations - for providing short-range point defense against both aerial and surface threats.[9]
Sensors
In a parallel fashion to the Ada-class corvettes, the Babur class feature similar radar equipment, including :-
The PN MILGEM class is equipped with the SMART-S Mk2 passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, license manufactured by Aselsan.[2] The SMART-S Mk2 is a three-dimensional, multi-beam, long-range surface/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.[14]
The class also features the Aselsan ALPER low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPI) - for detecting and tracking both aerial and surface targets.[15] The ALPER features an approximate range of 36 nmi (67 km).[16]
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]
The corvettes feature the Meteksan YAKAMOS sonar system, as its primary sonar suite.[4] 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).[17]
As part of its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, the corvettes feature the Aselsan ARES-2N radar ESM system, along with ELINT and SIGINT modules.[9] 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.[18]
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.[19]
In addition, the class is also equipped with the Northrop Grumman LN-270 INS/GPS navigation system, for providing geopositioning and turret stabilization.[20]
| Pennant number | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F280 | Babur | Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY) | 4 June 2020[21] | 15 August 2021[22] | 23 September 2023[23] | Active |
| F282 | Khyber | 1 May 2021[24] | 25 November 2022[25] | Launched | ||
| F281 | Badr | Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) | 25 October 2020[26] | 20 May 2022[27] | Launched | |
| F283 | Tariq | 5 November 2021[28] | 2 August 2023[29] | Launched |
- Doha-class corvette - A class of multi-mission corvettes currently being built for the Qatari Emiri Navy.
- Kamorta-class corvette - A class of anti-submarine corvettes operated by the Indian Navy.
- Khareef-class corvette - A class of anti-surface corvettes operated by the Royal Navy of Oman.
- Diponegoro-class corvette - A class of guided-missile corvettes operated by the Indonesian Navy.
- Gowind 2500 corvette - A class of multi-mission corvettes currently being built for the Egyptian Navy.
- Steregushchiy-class corvette - A class of multi-purpose corvettes operated by the Russian Navy.
- List of active Pakistan Navy ships
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