​Babur-class corvette (PN MILGEM design)

The Babur-class corvette is a class of four heavy corvettes under construction for the Pakistan Navy. This class is designated from Turkish MILGEM project. The corvette class is heavier and larger than the Turkish Ada-class corvette, also equipped with VLS.

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 450–700 km (280–430 mi).

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 40 km (25 mi), 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 35mm close-in weapon system and two Aselsan STOP 25mm 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 PN MILGEM class feature similar radar equipment.

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 suraface/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.

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 36 nmi (67 km).

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).

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 360o azimuth over a range of 230 km (140 mi).

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 250 km (160 mi) and the Aselsan PIRI infrared search and track (IRST) system — capable of tracking 150 targets simultaneously, over an azimuth of 360.

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.