Sea trials begin for Turkish-built Pakistani Babur-class corvette PNS Khaibar.

On May 30, 2025, the Babur-class corvette PNS Khaibar (F-282), constructed by Turkish state-owned defense firm ASFAT for the Pakistan Navy, officially began sea trials at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, marking a significant milestone in the strategic Türkiye-Pakistan MILGEM naval cooperation program. This phase commenced three days ago and highlights a landmark moment in bilateral defense collaboration. As reported by ASFAT and the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the Sea Acceptance Tests saw PNS Khaibar accompanied by the Turkish offshore patrol vessel AKHISAR, also built by ASFAT, with both vessels performing coordinated maneuvers during joint sea trials.
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The Pakistan Navy’s MILGEM program encompasses four Babur-class corvettes, with two vessels built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard and two at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works under a technology transfer arrangement (Picture source: ASFAT)

The PNS Khaibar is a highly capable multi-mission corvette based on the MILGEM Ada-class design. Measuring 108.2 meters in length and displacing nearly 3,000 tons, the vessel is powered by a combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion system, enabling speeds up to 29 knots and a range of 3,500 nautical miles. Its advanced combat systems include Aselsan’s Hizir torpedo countermeasure suite, SMART-S Mk2 3D radar, SeaEye-AHTAPOT electro-optical sensors, and ALBATROS NG air defense system equipped with MBDA CAMM-ER missiles. The ship is armed with six P-282 hypersonic surface-to-surface missiles, a Leonardo 76mm Super Rapido main gun, and Aselsan’s Gokdeniz CIWS, positioning it among the most modern corvettes currently in service worldwide.

Initiated under a 2018 bilateral agreement, the Pakistan Navy’s MILGEM program encompasses four Babur-class corvettes, with two vessels built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard and two at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works under a technology transfer arrangement. PNS Khaibar is the second vessel constructed in Türkiye and the third of the class overall. This project represents a major advancement in Pakistan’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities. Compared to regional equivalents such as the Israeli Sa’ar 6 or Russian Steregushchiy-class corvettes, the Babur-class offers superior versatility and lethality, particularly through its integration of hypersonic missiles and a unique combination of multinational sensor and weapon systems.

Strategically, this program significantly enhances Pakistan’s ability to safeguard its maritime interests in the Indian Ocean, an increasingly contested space amid growing regional rivalries. For India, the induction of hypersonic missile-equipped Babur-class corvettes presents a new dimension of strategic challenge. These corvettes can project power across extended ranges, potentially threatening critical Indian maritime assets and supply lines. Geopolitically, the Türkiye-Pakistan collaboration reinforces both nations’ pursuit of independent defense capabilities and greater regional influence. The operational deployment of these advanced corvettes will elevate the Pakistan Navy’s deterrence posture, providing a credible counterweight to India’s expanding naval power and contributing to a more complex and competitive maritime security environment in South Asia.

Although official budget figures for the program remain undisclosed, the four-ship initiative is estimated to be valued at approximately $1.5 billion, with the original contract awarded to ASFAT in 2018. The delivery of the first vessel and the ongoing sea trials of PNS Khaibar demonstrate steady progress. While no new international contracts have been announced thus far, the program’s success is likely to attract the attention of potential export customers seeking advanced, versatile corvettes.

This achievement not only highlights Türkiye’s shipbuilding expertise but also reinforces the growing strength of the Türkiye-Pakistan defense partnership. The Babur-class corvettes are poised to become a central pillar of Pakistan’s future naval strategy, altering the strategic balance in the Indian Ocean and driving a new phase of regional naval competition.