The TCG Istanbul was photographed leaving the Istanbul Naval Shipyard on the morning of June 20 by ship spotters at sea. A few hours later, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced via social media that sea trials has officially begun.
The Turkish MoD shared some photos showing that a flag-raising ceremony was conducted before the start of the trials.
The project’s main contractor, STM, also confirmed the commencement of the sea trials.
“The Turkish flag was raised and the first sea trials was conducted for TCG ISTANBUL (F-515), Türkiye’s first national frigate, of which we are proud to be the designer and main contractor. Equipped with modern and national systems, TCG ISTANBUL will join the inventory of the Turkish Naval Forces in 2023, the centenary of our Republic.”
STM social media
TCG Istanbul is scheduled to join the Turkish Fleet by the end of this year.
The following frigates will be built by a partnership involving Turkish companies STM and TAIS Shipyards. These three frigates will be built concurrently at the Sefine, Anadolu, and Sedef Shipyards, that are the partners of TAIS.
- TCG Izmir (F-516) – Anadolu Shipyard (ADIK)
- TCG Içel (F-517) – Sedef Shipyard
- TCG Izmit (F-518) – Sefine Shipyard
The shipyards will deliver the frigates in 36 months.
About TCG Istanbul Frigate
The I-class Frigate Program was launched to construct four frigates to replace aging YAVUZ-class Frigates in the mid-2020s. Developed under the MILGEM indigenous warship program, the Istanbul class is an enlarged variant of the Ada-class anti-submarine corvette. The I-class Frigates will have around 50% increased fuel capacity and operational/sailing range capability compared to Ada-class Corvettes.
The I-class frigates have the configuration to conduct detection, determination of position, classification, identification, and destruction of the target and NGFS. The I-class Frigate is designed to conduct maritime surveillance and patrol operations, inspection, and surveillance of EEZ besides preventing potential threats.
Specifications:
| Length Overall | : 113.2 meters |
| Length Waterline | : 105.2 meters |
| Beam Max | : 14.4 meters |
| Draught | : 4.05 meters |
| Displacement | : 3000 tons |
| Maximum Speed | : 29+ knots |
| Cruise Speed | : 14 knots |
| Endurance | : 5700 Nm at 14 knots |
| Main Propulsion | : CODAG (2xMTU Diesel engines + 1xLM2500 gas turbine) 2x shafts and CPP propellers |
| Power Generation | : 4 x 560kw diesel generator |
| CMS | : HAVELSAN ADVENT |
| Sensor Suit | : – 3D radar (Probably Aselsan CENK-S AESA) – Navigation radar (Probably Aselsan ALPER-P LPI) – Fire Control Radars (2xAKR-D Fire Control radars) – EO Systems (Probably ASELFLIR-300T, PIRI KATS, and AHTAPOT) – FERSAH hull-mounted sonar – HIZIR Torpedo Countermeasures System – Laser warning system – ASELSAN ARES family ESM/ECM |
| Weapons | : – 16-cell MIDLAS indigenous VLS for launching HISAR family of surface-to-air missiles – 4×4 ATMACA anti-ship missiles – Aselsan Gokdeniz CIWS – 76 mm Super Rapid Gun – 2 x 25 mm Aselsan STOP machine gun – 2×3 Lightweight torpedo (MK-46 Mod 5 / Roketsan ORKA) |
