Babur-class Corvette

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. The corvette class is heavier and larger than the Turkish and are also equipped with VLS.

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. 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. The Harbah is an anti-ship variant of the Babur subsonic cruise missile, featuring an approximate range of .

*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. Opposingly, other illustrations of the corvettes released by INSY depict a 16-cell VLS arrangement at the bow.

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). However, in 2021 - the Pakistan Navy revealed that it had selected the Albatros NG surface-to-air missiles developed by MBDA, instead. The Albatros NG - a variant of the CAMM-ER naval anti-air missile, features an approximate range of over , with the capability to neutralize various aerial threats - including anti-ship missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and precision-guided munitions. Incidentally, the PN MILGEM corvettes are also the first surface warships to utilize the Albatros NG.

*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. Although the helicopter's designation is yet to divulged, it is believed that the corvettes may feature the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat.

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

Sensors

In a parallel fashion to the Ada-class corvettes, the ''Babur'' 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. The SMART-S Mk2 is a three-dimensional, multi-beam, long-range surface/aerial surveillance radar, featuring an azimuth of 360^o, with the capability to track both aerial and surface targets - at ranges of approximately and , respectively.

The class also features the Aselsan ALPER low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPI) - for detecting and tracking both aerial and surface targets. The ALPER features an approximate range of .

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 .

*Sonar
The corvettes feature the Meteksan YAKAMOS sonar system, as its primary sonar suite. The YAKAMOS is a hull-mounted, medium-frequency anti-submarine/obstacle-avoidance sonar, capable of detecting sub-surface targets within an azimuth of 360^o azimuth over a range of .

*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. 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.

*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 and the Aselsan PIRI infrared search and track (IRST) system - capable of tracking 150 targets simultaneously, over an azimuth of 360^o.

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.

Ships of the class

See also

Ships of notable comparison and era

* - A class of multi-mission corvettes currently being built for the Qatari Emiri Navy.
* - A class of anti-submarine corvettes operated by the Indian Navy.
* - A class of anti-surface corvettes operated by the Royal Navy of Oman.
* - 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.
* - A class of multi-purpose corvettes operated by the Russian Navy.

Other references to the Pakistan Navy

* List of active ships in the Pakistan Navy

References

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Corvette classes