The Turkish flag was ceremoniously hoisted on the Istanbul Frigate, which is currently being built at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, and it embarked on its first voyage, commencing Sea Acceptance Trials (SAT).
According to a statement by the Ministry of National Defense, “The Turkish flag was ceremoniously hoisted on the Istanbul Frigate, which is currently being built at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, and it embarked on its first voyage, commencing Sea Acceptance Trials.”
A contract was signed between the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and the Main Contractor STM Corporation on April 12, 2019, for the construction of TCG Istanbul (F-515) Frigate, and the contract came into effect on September 27, 2019.
The launching of the Istanbul (F-515) Frigate, which is the 5th ship of the MİLGEM Project, and the First Steel Cutting Ceremony of the Pakistan MİLGEM Corvette Project’s 3rd ship, took place on January 23, 2021. The delivery of TCG Istanbul Frigate to the Turkish Naval Forces Command is targeted for September 2023.
The project, constructed at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard under the main contractor STM, involved Havelsan and Aselsan as the main subcontractors. The majority of the suppliers consisted of domestic companies.
The Presidency of Defense Industries announced on January 23, 2023, that the supply of three I Class Frigates would be carried out through the Anadolu, Sedef, Sefine, TAIS Joint Venture Company, and STM Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. It is planned to deliver three I Class Frigates simultaneously in 36 months at each of the Anadolu, Sedef, and Sefine shipyards.
I Class Frigates have submarine defense, surface and air defense warfare capabilities, advanced patrol activities, reconnaissance, surveillance, target identification, diagnosis, recognition, and early warning capabilities.
The TCG Istanbul Frigate has been announced to have a full length of 113.2 meters, width of 14.4 meters, depth of 7.75 meters, draft of 4.05 meters, and displacement of 3,000 tons.
TCG Istanbul is equipped with a 76mm Super Rapid Naval Gun provided by Leonardo. Behind the main gun, there is a 16-cell National Vertical Launching System (MİDLAS). While TCG Istanbul has a Leonardo product as its main gun, the other three ships will use a 76mm Naval Gun produced by MKE.
Unlike our ADA class corvettes, a significant portion of the systems previously procured from abroad has been developed in our country and integrated into TCG Istanbul frigate in line with changing operational needs and evolving technology. Among these are the surface-to-air vertical launching systems (MİDLAS) with longer range for the first time, surface-to-surface ATMACA guided missile, 3D search radar, fire control radar, infrared search and counter-electronic warfare systems, point defense weapon systems, and torpedo launching systems, which are among the most important ones.
