Babur-class corvette

Armament

For its anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities, the corvettes feature two triple-cell launchers for six anti-ship missiles of an undisclosed designation.^[9] However, 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.^[10] The Harbah is an anti-ship variant of the Babur subsonic cruise missile, featuring an approximate range of 450–700 km (280–430 mi).^[10]

As for its anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities, the corvettes feature a 12-cell GWS-26 vertical launching system (VLS) configuration.^[10]

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).^[11] However, in 2021 - the Pakistan Navy revealed that it had selected the Albatros NG surface-to-air missiles developed by MBDA, instead.^[12] Notably, the Albatros NG - a variant of the CAMM-ER naval anti-air missile - has 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.^[13] The PN MILGEM corvettes are the first surface warships to utilize Albatros NG.^[12]

As for its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, the corvettes feature two three-cell Mark 32 324 mm lightweight torpedo tubes, along with an anti-submarine helicopter.^[2] Although the helicopter's designation is yet to divulged, it is believed that the corvettes may carry the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat.^[9]

Additionally, the corvettes have one OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun, one 35 mm Aselsan GOKDENIZ (a close-in weapon system), and two 25mm Aselsan STOP remote weapon stations - for providing short-range point defense against both aerial and surface threats.^[9]

Sensors

In a parallel fashion to the Ada-class corvettes, the Babur class feature similar radar equipment, including :-

The PN MILGEM class is equipped with the SMART-S Mk2 passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, license manufactured by Aselsan.^[2] The SMART-S Mk2 is a three-dimensional, multi-beam, long-range surface/aerial surveillance radar, featuring an azimuth of 360^o, with the capability to track both aerial and surface targets - at ranges of approximately 250 km (160 mi) and 80 km (50 mi), respectively.^[14]

The class also features the Aselsan ALPER low-probability-of-intercept radar (LPI) - for detecting and tracking both aerial and surface targets.^[15] The ALPER features an approximate range of 36 nmi (67 km).^[16]

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).^{[citation needed]}

The corvettes feature the Meteksan YAKAMOS sonar system, as its primary sonar suite.^[4] The YAKAMOS is a hull-mounted, medium-frequency anti-submarine/obstacle-avoidance sonar, capable of detecting sub-surface targets within an azimuth of 360^o azimuth over a range of 230 km (140 mi).^[17]

As part of its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, the corvettes feature the Aselsan ARES-2N radar ESM system, along with ELINT and SIGINT modules.^[9] 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.^[18]

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^o.^[19]

In addition, the class is also equipped with the Northrop Grumman LN-270 INS/GPS navigation system, for providing geopositioning and turret stabilization.^[20]