STM, a Turkish company specializing in defense and space engineering, technology, and consultancy, has awarded a contract to General Electric (GE) Marine to supply LM2500 marine gas turbines to power Pakistan Navy’s new MILGEM Ada Class multipurpose Corvettes.
According to details, GE Marine will build the LM2500 marine gas turbines at its Evendale manufacturing facility in Ohio, US.
Vice President Marine Operations at the GE Marine, Kris Shepherd, has said:
GE Marine is delighted to provide the Pakistan Navy with its state-of-the-art LM2500 gas turbines to power the MILGEM Corvettes.
GE Marine has so far delivered 1200 LM2500 marine gas turbines for 39 international navies.
Earlier this year in June, STM had signed a contract with state-owned Turkish defense contractor ASFAT for supplying the main propulsion system for the MILGEM Corvettes.
In July 2018, the Pakistan Navy had signed an agreement with ASFAT to acquire 4 MILGEM-class Corvettes to further consolidate its defensive capabilities.
Under the agreement, it was finalized that 2 MILGEM-class ships will be constructed in Pakistan while 2 will be built in Turkey. Both Pakistan and Turkish navies had commenced construction of the MILGEM Corvettes in June this year.
2 MILGEM-class ships are scheduled to be inducted in the fleet of Pakistan Navy in 2023 while the remaining a year later. *About MILGEM Corvettes*
The MILGEM Ada Class Corvette is a modern stealth patrol and anti-submarine warfare combatant naval ship.
MILGEM is a state-of-the-art surface platform equipped with the modern surface, subsurface, and anti-air weapons, sensors, and combat management systems.
MILGEM is a 326.8 feet long, 47.3 feet wide naval ship and can accommodate 106 naval personnel. It has a displacement capacity of 2,400,000 kg, a maximum range of 6,500 km, and a top speed of 56 km/h.