STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş., one of the leading companies in the Turkish defence sector, has completed another key milestone in its successful export projects in Pakistan. The second submarine, PNS/M KHALID (S-137), was delivered to Pakistan Naval Forces Command at a ceremony, marking the latest step in the project to modernize three Agosta 90B class submarines of Pakistan Naval Forces Command by STM.

STM delivered PNS/M HAMZA (S-139), the first submarine in the project, to Pakistan Naval Forces Command on 29 April 2021.

Speaking about the project, Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, said: “As we continue our journey on which we set out for the sake of our country’s defence, we are also transferring our engineering experience and technologies to friendly and brotherly countries. The Pakistan Navy Agosta 90B Class Submarine Modernization Project is one of the most important examples of STM’s national and international competency in submarine production and modernization.”

“Within the scope of the AGOSTA Modernization project, which stands out as Türkiye’s first submarine modernization engineering export project involving strategic and high-tech systems, we have successfully equipped the second submarine with modern systems after having delivered the first to the customer in 2021. We delivered the second submarine to the Pakistan Navy on time under the project, which we have been carrying out in collaboration with nearly 50 local and foreign companies and suppliers, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a global impact in every field,” he added.

“While exporting the systems of numerous domestic companies through the AGOSTA 90B Modernization project, we are continuing our works in Pakistan with a view to completing the modernization of the third and last submarine on schedule. I congratulate all of our stakeholders and employees who have contributed to the project. I hope PNS/M KHALID, which has begun to carry out its naval missions, will be beneficial to the friendly and brotherly Pakistan Navy,” he concluded.

STM was awarded the submarine modernization contract in 2016, paving the way for the exportation for the first time of Turkish engineering products in the highly advanced technological field of submarines. The contract for the mid-life upgrade of a single Agosta 90B class submarine was later expanded to include the modernization of the second and third submarines. Under the modernization project, various sensor and weapon systems are being upgraded, involving the integration of state-of-the-art systems that have been installed and integrated by STM.

The submarines’ sonar suites, periscopes, command and control systems, naval data distribution system, converters, steering control system, chilled water system and radar & electronic support systems are all being replaced, and systems produced by numerous indigenous and national companies, including ASELSAN and HAVELSAN are also being exported under the scope of the Project. All hull-related structural modifications, materials and workmanship activities carried out on the submarines under the modernization project have been certified by the international classification society DNV (Dat Nordske Veritas).

The project is continuing at the PN Dockyard Shipyard of the Pakistan Navy using local workmanship of PN Dockyard, where engineering, design, material, documentation, training  and technical support is being provided by STM.

The first Agosta 90B Class Submarine PNS/M HAMZA (S-139), modernized by STM for the Pakistan Navy, participated in the SEASPARK-2022 Tactical Exercise, during which it successfully fired a torpedo and sank a decommissioned frigate.

STM has been serving the Turkish defence sector for over a quarter of a century in areas that include engineering, technology and consultancy services, working in fields that are critical for Türkiye and its allies. It applies its advanced capabilities and technologies to a broad range of strategic fields, ranging from naval platforms to satellites, from tactical mini-UAV systems to cybersecurity, and from big data analytics to artificial intelligence applications.