The ship spotters in the vicinity of Izmit shared the first photos of the Barbaros-class frigate TCG Orucreis on Twitter on November 18, 2023. A few days later, the Turkish Defence Ministry made the official announcement mentioning that TCG Oruçreis started its “first control deployment”. The Ministry also stated that the sea trial would begin after completing the controls.
The Barbaros-class frigate now features a new stealth mast, which resembles the on TCG Istanbul (F-515), the first of the I-class frigates. The integrated mast is fitted with new sensors and changes the profile of the frigate quite significantly. All systems within the MLU project appeared to be mounted on the ship, with the exception of the 35mm GOKDENIZ CIWS, which was to be located forward, right below the frigate’s bridge.
The mid-life upgrade project for the Barbaros-class frigates began with the signing of the contract on April 3, 2018. The program experienced some delays due to the Turkish Navy’s schedule.
BARBAROS Mid-Life Modernization Project includes the production, supply, and integration of modern systems for frigates by performing maximum usage of domestic facilities and capabilities, instead of the current combat and navigation systems of four BARBAROS Class Frigates in the inventory of the Turkish Navy.
The current STACOS combat management system is replaced by the ADVENT CMS developed by Havelsan, which is an improved and network-centric warfare compatible version of the first Turkish CMS called GENESIS.
The weapon and sensor upgrades of the project are as follows;
- AWS-06 Dolphin radar (a part of the Sea Guard system) is replaced with Aselsan’s MAR-D radar,
- 4×2 Harpoon anti-ship missiles will be replaced with 4×4 Roketsan Atmaca missiles
- Sea Zenith CIWS is replaced with Phalanx Mk-15 Block 1B Baseline 2 and Aselsan 35mm Gokdeniz CIWS,
- ASELSAN’s STOP 25 mm Remote Controlled Stabilized Naval Gun Systems mounted,
- Dual-Band STIR Tracking and Illumination Radars are replaced with ASELSAN’s AKREP AKR-D Dual-Band (X and Ka-Band) Naval Fire Control Radars
- DECCA 2690 is replaced with ALPER LPI navigational radar
- AN/SQS-56 hull-mounted sonar is replaced with ASELSAN’s FERSAH hull-mounted sonar
- AN/SLQ-25 Nixie Torpedo Decoy/Defence System is replaced with ASELSAN’s HIZIR Torpedo Defence System
- Racal Cutlas-1B ESM, and Racal Scorpion-B Electronic Attack Systems are replaced with Aselsan’s ARES-2N(V)2 ESM and AREAS-2NC Electronic Attack Systems
- ASELSAN PIRI-KATS IRST System, ASELSAN KIRLANGIC EO System, Improved Lazer Warning System, and Roketsan’s YALMAN Missile Launchers (can be equipped with up to 4 UMTAS/TEMREN ATGMs or 8 CIRIT Missiles or 2 TEMREN and 4 CIRIT) will be mounted.
- The BARBAROS Class Frigate MLU Contract also covers the integration of ARMELSAN’s ARAS-2023 Diver Detection Sonar System on four vessels.
