On 06 September, the Pakistan Navy (PN) formally inducted two new multipurpose surface combatants – i.e., the MILGEM corvette PNS Babur, and the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) PNS Hunain. The two ships were acquired from Turkiye and the Netherlands, respectively.
The two programs – i.e., the PN MILGEM and the Damen OPV 1900/2600 – are key pieces of the PN’s fleet modernization and expansion efforts. In 2020, the PN leadership at the time revealed that the force was aiming to grow its surface fleet to as many as 50 ships, of which 20 will be “major surface vessels.”
Stay up to date with the latest Pakistani defence news with reliable research and accurate forecasting
Click Here
Background on PNS Hunain
PNS Hunain is the third of four Yarmouk-class OPVs the PN acquired from Damen Group of the Netherlands.
The PN’s OPV program was divided in two tranches. The first tranche consisted of two ships based on Damen’s OPV-1900 design, while the second batch was based on the larger OPV-2600.
On paper, both batches of the PN’s OPVs can carry ASCMs, while the Batch-II OPVs (including PNS Hunain) can also carry SAMs via a VLS configuration. However, since inducting these OPVs, the PN has yet to arm either one with such weapons.
Get Timely Pakistani Defence News
Unmatched depth on the JF-17, Project Azm, Hangor submarine, Babur, Fatah, and more. Be the first to know about Pakistan's next-gen UAVs, USVs, and emerging platforms.
