TSAMTO, April 10. The Turkish company STM announced the signing of contracts for the construction of three Istanbul-class frigates for the Turkish Navy in Ankara on April 7 as part of a project that is a continuation of the MILGEM program.
The event, held at the headquarters of the Directorate of Defense Industry of Turkey (SSB), was attended by SSB President Ismail Demir, STM General Manager Ozgur Guleruz, the management of TAIS, Sedef Shipyard, Anadolu Shipyard and Sefine Shipyard.
As stated, three Istanbul-class frigates will be built simultaneously within 36 months at the enterprises of three private shipbuilding companies, Anadolu Shipyard, Sedef Shipyard and Sefine Shipyard, and transferred to the command of the Turkish Navy.
It is noted that the 6th, 7th and 8th ships of the series will be built with a greater share of national components.
According to STM, the company acted as the main subcontractor in the MILGEM program for the construction of the first 4 corvettes of the series, the share of components of national production in which is 70%. STM was selected as the general contractor of the program for the construction of the lead frigate "Istanbul" (the fifth ship of the series under the MILGEM program), increasing the "national component" to 80%. The delivery of this ship is scheduled for the last quarter of 2023. According to the new contract, the joint venture STM-TAIS has been identified as the general contractor for the construction of the Izmir, Ichel and Izmit frigates. The company also equips ships with modern Turkish-made systems.
As reported by TSAMTO, the project of the Istanbul frigate was developed within the MILGEM program (Milli Gemi – national ship), aimed at developing the capabilities of the Turkish industry in the field of construction of warships. Earlier, four Ada-class corvettes were built for the Turkish Navy as part of this project.
The Navy Command carried out the design of the new frigate, taking as a basis the project of the Ada-class corvette. The steel cutting ceremony for the construction of the lead frigate of the series (the fifth ship under the MILGEM program), (F-515) "Istambul", took place at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard on January 19, 2017, the launch took place on January 23, 2021. The ship is scheduled to be delivered in the last quarter of 2023.
On December 20, 2022, the Executive Committee of the Turkish Defense Industry approved the construction of three additional Istanbul-class frigates for the Turkish Navy.
According to available data, the length of the Istambul–class frigate will be 113.2 m, width – 14.4 m, draft – 4.05 m, displacement - about 3,100 tons, crew – 125 people. The ship will be equipped with a combined main power plant of the CODAG type, including two diesel engines MTU 20V 4000 M91L and GTD LM2500. The estimated maximum speed is 29 knots, the range is 6570 nautical miles at a speed of 14 knots. The armament will include one 76-mm AU Oto Melara Super Rapid, two 25-mm DUMV STOP company Aselsan, ZAK GOKDENIZ, 16 anti-ship missiles "Harpoon" or ATMACA PKR company Roketsan, 16 HISAR missiles and two twin-tube 324-mm torpedo launchers. The ship will be equipped with a flight deck and hangar for the S-70B "Seahawk" helicopter and one unmanned aerial vehicle.
The frigate will be equipped with an infrared detection and tracking system developed by the Turkish company Aselsan, a Turkish-made electronic warfare system. An anti-torpedo protection system of national production will be installed on the ship. In addition to Aselsan, the systems of its own design for frigates will be manufactured by the Turkish company Havelsan. About 80 subcontractors will supply more than 150 systems for various purposes for the ship. About two-thirds of subcontractors are Turkish companies. In particular, national companies will supply weapons and electrical systems, diesel generators, integrated control systems, radiation, chemical, biological protection systems, etc.
