*ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has signed a contract for acquisition of fourMILGEM Class Ships with Turkey’s M/S ASFAT A, a military factory andshipyard company under the Ministry of National Defence, Turkey, inRawalpindi.*

The contract also includes complete transfer of technology and the transferof intellectual proprietary rights for the design of these ships toPakistan, says a press release.

The 1st and 2nd ship will be built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard while twoships will be constructed at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW).

A note worthy feature of the contract is that the 4th warship will bedesigned jointly by Pakistan’s Maritime Technologies Complex (MTC) and willbe the first indigenously designed and constructed frigate.

The construction of 3rd and 4th ship at KS&EW will not only enhance theindustrial production confidence and the ships construction potential butalso contribute towards national economy, creating new jobs and developmentof highly skilled human resource of the Karachi Shipyard.

The MILGEM Class Ships contract will go a long way in fostering Pak-Turkeystrategic relations which have grown with time. The induction of theseships will substantially enhance Pakistan Navy’s Combat Capabilities andwill contribute effectively towards Maritime Security Operations in theregion.

MILGEM Class Ship is a capable and extremely potent platform, favorablycomparable with any contemporary warship of modern navies.

The ship is equipped with modern stealth features, and state of the art 5thgeneration weapons and sensors including indigenously developed missilesystem, hence configured to undertake multifaceted operations in alldomains of naval warfare.

The acquisition of these modern ships will enhance manifold thecapabilities of Pakistan’s Naval Forces which are an ardent guarantor ofMaritime Security and stability across the region and beyond.