Two new warships, PNS Babar and PNS Hunain, will be formally inducted into the Pakistan Navy fleet on Defence Day, September 6, 2024. According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the induction ceremony will be attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, who will be the chief guest.
PNS Babar, built in Turkey, and PNS Hunain, constructed in Romania, are set to enhance the Pakistan Navy’s defense capabilities. PNS Babar, a Babar-class ship, features a vertical launching system capable of engaging aerial threats. Its construction began on June 4, 2020, it was launched on August 15, 2021, and commissioned on September 23, 2023. The Babar-class ships are equipped for surface, underwater, and air combat.
Under a Pak-Turkey agreement, two of these ships are being built in Istanbul and two in Karachi. Currently, three other Babar-class ships—PNS Badar, Tariq, and Khyber—are under construction.
PNS Hunain, the third offshore patrol vessel (OPV), arrived in Karachi from Romania on August 30, 2024. This multipurpose, medium-sized OPV is equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems, anti-ship and anti-air weapons, and a comprehensive self-protection system. It was commissioned in July 2024 at Damen Shipyard, Romania.
The induction of PNS Hunain and the Babar-class ships will significantly bolster the Pakistan Navy’s maritime security capabilities in the Indian Ocean. The ceremony at the PN Dockyard was attended by numerous Navy officers, CPOs, sailors, and the families of crew members.
