The Pakistan Navy Fleet Tanker (PNFT), one of the biggest single-item export projects of the Turkish defence industry, was delivered to the Pakistan Navy at a commissioning ceremony held in Karachi.
Pakistani President Arif Alvi, Defence Industries President Professor İsmail Demir, Defence Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. (STM) Chairman İhsan Kaya, STM General Manager Murat İkinci, STM Karachi Director Halil Baş and the military authorities of the two countries participated in the Navy Fleet Tanker's delivery ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony, Alvi said the ship was the largest military vessel ever built in Pakistan. Pointing to the growing cooperation between fellow countries Pakistan and Turkey, Alvi thanked Turkey and the STM in this regard. He said that the cooperation between the two countries will even grow stronger with the MİLGEM (National Ship) project.
The platform can carry two helicopters, is equipped with medical facilities, and can provide overseas support during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.The tanker has two deck cranes and two replenishment-at-sea (RAS) masts, one each on the port and starboard sides, which enables it to refuel two vessels simultaneously via the alongside connected replenishment (CONREP) method.
The tanker's defences against aircraft and precision-guided weapons are provided by two close-in weapon systems, each of which is located on the forecastle and on the main superstructure facing the flight deck.
Moawin replaces an older ex-Royal Netherlands Navy ship of the same name operated by the PN's 9th Auxiliary and Mine Warfare Squadron.
