Pakistan Navy, on Wednesday, held the inauguration ceremony of Pakistan’s first, indigenously designed Fast Attack Craft (Missile), FAC (M)-4, at the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited (KS&EW) in the West Wharf of the provincial capital.
A statement issued by the Directorate General Public Relations (Navy) revealed that the Minister for Defense Production, Zubaida Jalal was the Chief Guest for the inauguration ceremony.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by a large crowd of high ranking ministers and officials from the federal and provincial governments, the Pakistan Navy and the KS&EW.
Launching Ceremony of indigenously designed multi mission capable Fast Attack Craft (Missile)/FAC(M)-4 being built for #PakNavy at KS&EW was held today. Chief Guest Federal Minister for Defence Production Mohtarma Zobaida Jalal applauded the national goal of self-reliance. pic.twitter.com/pYfHYvEUyW
— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) November 27, 2019
Fast Attack Craft (Missile)
The FAC (M)-4 is a 63-meter long, high-tech, advanced multi-mission vessel with a displacement capacity of more than 560 tons. The Craft is propelled by four shafts and a boosts a 30-knot speed. The Navy intends to equip the FAC (M)-4 with indigenously-developed sensors and anti-ship missiles.
#Pakistan Navy Launches it's first indigenously produced multi-mission Fast attack craft (Missile) / FAC(M).
Layman details: Speed of 30 knots, 560-tonne displacement & range of 1000 nautical miles. Is armed with Surface to surface missiles, 25 mm gun, CIWS. #HumbleBeginings pic.twitter.com/lh1pKLjBro
— Asfandyar Bhittani (@AsfandBhittani) November 27, 2019
The vessel has been indigenously designed by the Maritime Technologies Complex (MTC), stated the statement issued by the Navy.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the Minister for Defense Production Zubaida Jalal congratulated the Pakistan Navy, the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited and the Maritime Technologies Complex for this extraordinary feat towards actualizing Pakistan’s goal of indigenization and self-dependence.
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Jalal observed that the KS&EW is one of the few public sector industries that has exhibited an impressive improvement in the last ten years, providing itself a sustainable, revenue-generating body of the Ministry of Defense Production.
Jalal observed that in order to facilitate the economic growth of the country in the future, the Ministry of Defense Production has a robust agenda to pursue the development of new shipyards. She observed that the newly designed Missile Craft will prove effective at safeguarding the sea frontiers of Pakistan.
Launching ceremony of indigenously designed Fast Attack Craft (Missile) held at KS&EW https://t.co/QEhGAtdWbg pic.twitter.com/lmjC1e44jw
— 92 News HD Plus (@92newschannel) November 27, 2019
Navy Contracts to Karachi Shipyard
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Rear Admiral Ather Saleem, the Managing Director of KS&EW, expressed his gratitude to the Pakistan Navy and the Ministry of Defense Production for their persistent support and assistant.
He observed that during the last few years, the KS&EW has concluded multiple products in line with international standards on quality control. Therefore, the Pakistan Navy has reestablished its confidence in the Karachi Shipyard by awarding construction contracts for the HANGOR class submarines, Bollard Tugs, and MILGEM Class Ships.
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Rear Admiral Saleem added that the construction on the Bollard Tugs has begun while there has been progress in the arrangements for the construction of the MILGEM Class ships and HANGOR Class submarines according to plan. He assured that the KS&EW is dedicated to ensuring that all these challenging construction projects are completed on time and in accordance with the international quality control standards, without exceeding the allocated budget.