Pakistan Navy proceeds with gunboat construction
The Pakistan Navy will receive 20 gunboats, built with assistance from Swiftships in the US. (Photo: Swiftships)
Pakistan is working on two classes of patrol boat - one in conjunction with Swiftships in the US, and one with Techno Marine of Poland.
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) held a keel-laying ceremony for a new class of Pakistan Navy (PN) gunboats on 27 January.
Construction of the class is being performed with technical assistance from American shipbuilder Swiftships.
Swiftships revealed in a press release that, in March 2021, it had been awarded a contract for ‘co-production services for the design and in-country construction of 38.8m gunboats for the Pakistan Navy’.
The first steel cutting for these boats occurred on 6 October 2022. The PN is seeking 20 vessels; the first one should be delivered in January 2024.
Weaponry will include an Aselsan
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus]()
Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus
The recent naval modernisation efforts by the Hellenic Navy have been bolstered by the acquisition of advanced Naval Group frigates, the first of which was delivered in December 2025 and is now playing a crucial role in the latest Middle East conflict.
-
![US Navy SPY-6 approaches FRP with Raytheon already having “a hot production line”]()
US Navy SPY-6 approaches FRP with Raytheon already having “a hot production line”
Jen Gauthier, Raytheon’s VP of Naval Systems and Sustainment, told Shephard that the company is awaiting the US Navy’s green light to move “fully into full-rate production”.
-
![Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships]()
Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships
Ireland has a maritime area ten times the size of its land mass but has a limited naval capacity and faces an ongoing threat to critical underwater infrastructure. A new strategy is looking to address the challenge.
-
![How the Golden Fleet will change the US Navy acquisition process]()
How the Golden Fleet will change the US Navy acquisition process
The procurement of the future USN Golden Fleet is planned to be less bureaucratic than previous strategies, involving AI-enabled designs and scheduling tools to increase productivity and avoid delays.
-
![What capabilities are being tested under AUKUS Pillar II?]()
What capabilities are being tested under AUKUS Pillar II?
Collaboration on AUKUS Pillar II extends beyond the core trilateral agreement, presenting global opportunities for companies with advanced technologies.
