We are completing the publication of the report of the Turkish Navy Command on the transformations of the Turkish Navy for the period from 2023 to 2025, published in March 2025 (in more detail, part I , part II ).
Initiated projects to build up the Turkish Navy
Supply ships for resupply at sea (DIMDEG). The program is designed to meet the needs of the Turkish Navy in new generation auxiliary vessels. It provides for the construction of several support vessels capable of meeting the needs of surface ships operating on the high seas on a global scale for fuel, water, food and other types of food.
Auxiliary vessel TCG DERYA (A-1590)
F1 Auxiliary vessel TCG DERYA (A-1590)
The auxiliary vessel TCG DERYA (A-1590) was commissioned on January 19, 2024 as a new generation replenishment and combat support ship. According to the report, the vessel has significantly increased the Turkish Navy's ability to ensure the operational activities of the fleet at sea.
The vessel is 194.8 m long, 24.4 m wide, and 7.2 m high. The displacement is 26,500 tons. The total volume of tanks reaches 11 thousand cubic meters. The vessel is capable of carrying 48 containers and covering 4,500 nautical miles. Crew – 326 people, autonomy – 30 days. Two GE LM2500 gas turbines guarantee a relatively high top speed of 24 knots. In addition to the highest speed in its class, the vessel has a multifunctional structure that allows simultaneous operations to transfer fuel, ammunition, food, spare parts, and repair services to warships.
The vessel is expected to play a key role in future task forces that will be formed by the Turkish Navy on the high seas, especially with the participation of TCG ANADOLU and the national aircraft carrier.
The national Patrol boat project was initiated with the aim of reorganizing the high-speed strike forces of the Turkish Navy at the expense of domestic resources. In this regard, on September 9, 2024, the National Defense Industry Administration and STM AŞ signed a contract for the purchase of one prototype attack boat.
A total of 10 national warships are planned to be built as part of the project. According to the concept of combat use, the boats should have a total length of 66.35 m, a maximum width of 9.34 m and a maximum speed of 40 knots. Upon completion of the project, the national attack boats, characterized by high speed and the ability to launch a surprise attack in coastal waters, will make a significant contribution to the striking power of the Turkish Navy.
A project for the purchase of marine unmanned systems . As the authors of the report emphasize, the Turkish Navy "is on the verge of a major breakthrough in the effective use of uninhabited systems in naval operations." Designed for these reasons, the MARLIN unmanned marine boat entered service with the Turkish Navy on January 19, 2024. Following this, it is planned to commission uninhabited surface vehicles with various capabilities in 2025.: SANCAR, ULAQ and SALVO. In addition, since 2024, the Turkish Navy has included seven ALVATROS kamikaze bombers. These vehicles are designed as special platforms suitable for attacking enemy surface targets as part of a swarm.
BACK ULAQ
In addition, the Executive Committee of the Defense Industry decided to build eight kamikaze tanks (Kamikaze Insansız Deniz Aracı, K-IDA). The K-IDA project covers not only the Backs' ability to conduct reconnaissance, but also active offensive operations, including attacking in packs and destroying target ships. In particular, on October 4, 2023, during the tests, the target ship was successfully sunk using a K-IDA swarm.
As noted above, an appropriate command has been formed within the Navy to organize the combat control of such systems, based at the Aksaz Naval Base. In addition, uninhabited vehicles designed for mine action are planned to be integrated with new generation mine warfare ships.
Modernization activities
Barbaros-class frigates (Barbaros, B-YOM). The comprehensive modernization of four Barbaros-class frigates continues in the middle of their service life. The modernization of the first ship, TCG ORUÇREIS, was completed in December 2024. Modernization of the remaining three frigates is planned for 2028. As part of this process, the frigates are equipped with a national combat control system, detection, weapons and communications systems, which significantly increases their effectiveness in combating modern threats.
Turkish Navy Frigate TCG ORUÇREIS
Submarines of the Preveze and Gyur types. The integration of the MUREN-SYS national combat control system into the TCG PREVEZE submarine was completed on March 29, 2022. Modernization of other submarines of this type TCG SAKARYA and TCG 18 MART continues. In addition, the modernization of the TCG BURAKREIS submarine (S-359) is scheduled for August 18, 2025. On May 17, 2024, four portable firing control units were transferred from industry to the command of the Turkish Navy's submarine fleet. This equipment should provide Gyur-type submarines with the ability to fire locally produced heavy AKYA torpedoes.
The TCG SAVARONA vessel has historical value for the country as the Ataturk yacht. In accordance with the protocol signed on August 17, 2023, TCG SAVARONA transferred To the command of the Turkish Navy. The ship underwent a comprehensive restoration at the Istanbul shipyard, preserving its original appearance. Repair work began in September 2023, and about a year later, on July 19, 2024, the ship successfully completed its first trip to sea. TCG SAVARONA is used as a vessel for the retraining of fleet personnel.
Logistics and fortification works. Active construction work is underway to improve the equipment of the Navy, ports and other critical coastal facilities that provide logistical support for the operational activities of the Turkish Navy. Thus, construction works are underway in Aksaz, Canakkale, Gokcead, Agalar, Antalya, Iskenderun, Kasha and Karadeniz, Eregli.
The replenishment of the fleet with airplanes, helicopters and UAVs has led to an increase in the need for the deployment and development of the infrastructure of the Naval Aviation Command. In this regard, projects are currently being implemented to build hangars for UAVs and marine equipment at Naval Air Station Dalaman, hangars for aircraft maintenance and a parking area at Naval Air Station Canakkale.
Thus, the document "Activities implemented over the past three years" presented by the Command of the Turkish Navy provides a fairly detailed picture of the main directions of the development of the country's military fleet and demonstrates a wide range of operational and organizational measures aimed at building up Turkish naval power.
Source: mavivatan.net
