Note: This article discusses the procurement of two former Royal Netherlands Navy Tripartite-class minehunters by Pakistan Navy.

The Government of the Netherlands signed a deal with the Pakistan Navy for the sale of two former Royal Netherlands Navy Tripartite-class minehunters (known as Alkmaar Class in Netherlands) in 2021. HNLMS Haarlem and HNLMS Middelburg will join the Pakistan Navy in November 2022. They are currently being shipped to Pakistan on board vessel UHL FAME (present location: Red Sea, ETA: 7-8 days).

Pakistan currently operates three Tripartite Class (known as Éridan Class in France) minehunters acquired from France (known locally in Pakistan as Munsif Class). This will increase the ships to a total of 5 Munsif Class minehunters.

The Tripartite Class is a class 630 tonne minehunters developed jointly by France, the Netherlands and Belgium. The ships in Pakistani service have Elesco MKR 400 acoustic sweep and MKR 960 magnetic sweeps for minesweeping duties. The ships have a range of 5600 kilometers and is armed with a 20 mm modèle F2 gun as a naval defense weapon and two 12.7 mm machine guns.

The Alkmaar Class are further upgraded with improved electronics, including Atlas Elektronik INCMS combat data system, Thales 2022 Mk III hull-mounted sonar, Atlas Sea fox Mine Identification and Disposal System and a Double Eagle Mk III Mod 1 ROV. A minehunter is a vessel that seeks, detects, and destroys enemy naval mines. It uses an imaging sonar to detect and classify targets and then sends out divers or remotely operated vehicles to inspect & neutralize the threat, often using small charges that are detonated remotely.

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