Pakistan Navy renewal gathers pace as new OPV launched
With new up-gunned OPVs, new submarines, frigates and corvettes in production the Pakistan Navy will be a completely new force by the end of the decade. (Damen)
The launch of the first of a new pair of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Pakistan Navy (PN) on 12 September indicates an acceleration in the modernisation of the service as it introduces new ships into service.
The OPV, named PNS Hunain, was launched at Damen Shipyards Galati shipyard in Romania. However, Damen was not able to provide further information about the OPVs and it is not clear when the ship will be officially commissioned.
The second new OPV began construction in October 2022 and is still in the build process. As Hunain was laid down in July 2022, approximately three months before the second ship, and assuming the build schedule is the same, then the second OPV could be launched as early as December 2023.
Hunain is based on Damen’s 98m-long OPV 2600 design although
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Euronaval 2026: Baltic breakthrough powers Saildrone’s next European expansion]()
Euronaval 2026: Baltic breakthrough powers Saildrone’s next European expansion
Denmark’s doubled deployment, Mediterranean smuggling routes and Norwegian composite hulls show where uncrewed surveillance demand is heading, while British funding remains unclear.
-
![From Chokepoints to the Deep: ASELSAN’s Naval Vision at EURONAVAL]()
From Chokepoints to the Deep: ASELSAN’s Naval Vision at EURONAVAL
From deployable ship defence to autonomous sea and underwater vehicles, ASELSAN is preparing for a new era of naval security.
-
![Canada’s submarine availability under pressure as Chicoutimi is unlikely to return to front-line duties]()
Canada’s submarine availability under pressure as Chicoutimi is unlikely to return to front-line duties
HMCS Victoria and HMCS Windsor could return from their current deep maintenance, but unconfirmed operational timelines leave questions over patrol capacity before the first CPSP arrives.
