TCG İSTANBUL, Türkiye’s First National Frigate, Cruises for the First Time

The TCG İSTANBUL (F-515), Türkiye’s first national frigate, which was designed by and constructed under the main contractorship of STM, hoisted the flag and cruised for the first time. The frigate will be delivered to the Naval Forces Command in the last quarter of 2023.

STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Tic. A.Ş. – a leading light in the Turkish defence sector operating under the direction of the Defence Industry Agency (SSB), which is a major contributor to the national technology initiative – is continuing in its efforts to strengthen Türkiye in the Blue Homeland.

Another notable milestone has been passed by TCG İSTANBUL, Türkiye’s first national frigate, which was designed by and constructed by main contractor STM under the MiLGEM programme. Constructed at İstanbul Shipyard Command under the 5th Ship Supply Contract signed between the SSB and STM, TCG İSTANBUL cruised for the first time after a flag hoisting ceremony held on 20 June, 2023, upon the completion of its Port Acceptance experiences. The frigate will now undergo Sea Acceptance Tests after its navigational experience, and will be delivered to Turkish Naval Forces Command in the last quarter of 2023.

The construction of TCG İSTANBUL started under a project initiated in September 2019, and the ship was launched on 23 January 2021. Following the completion of the ship-rigging phase, the ship started port acceptance tests on 22 June, 2022.

“TCG İSTANBUL has achieved an indigenisation rate of 80 Percent”

Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, speaking about the latest development, said:

"STM takes pride in being the designer and main contractor of Türkiye’s first national frigate after undertaking many important tasks in the MiLGEM corvette project. We have managed to increase the national content of TCG İSTANBUL to 80 percent, equipping it with national weapon and electronic systems to the maximum level possible, exceeding our original target of 75 percent.  TCG İSTANBUL, which will further strengthen our country at seas cruise acceptance tests for the ISTANBUL Frigate, is now undergoing cruise acceptance tests. I would like to thank all of my colleagues who have contributed to the TCG İSTANBUL Frigate project, which will be delivered to Turkish Naval Forces on the 100th anniversary of our Republic. In April this year, we launched construction of the sixth, seventh, and eighth ships in the MiLGEM programme, which will be sisters to TCG ISTANBUL, with sheet metal cutting works. With the goal of ‘Limitless Technologies, Secured Future’, we will continue our efforts to contribute to enhancing the defence capabilities of our country and strengthening our Navy with indigenous and modern platforms.”

Features of the I-Class Frigate

TCG İSTANBUL is Türkiye’s first national frigate, and the first ship to be constructed under the İ-Class Frigate Programme – an extension of the MiLGEM Programme.

TCG İSTANBUL is noted for its capabilities in underwater and surface warfare roles and in air defence, but also in outpost, reconnaissance, surveillance, target detection, identification, recognition and early warning roles. The first national frigates, the length of which have been extended by 13 meters due to changes in the equipment and additions to the weapon systems used in the ADA-Class ships, have a displacement of 3,000 tons, a length of 113 meters and a beam of 14.4 meters. TCG İSTANBUL differs from ADA-Class corvettes in terms of its guided air-defence missile payloads. STM is acting as the ship’s performance supervisor, and is carrying out works related to design, including the preparation of design documents and workmanship drawings, the supply, testing and integration of all materials and systems aboard the ship, and the provision of logistics support.

A total of 220 companies have contributed to the İ-Class Frigate Programme, including 80 subcontractors working on the supply of more than 150 systems.

Features of the I-Class Frigate

TCG İSTANBUL is Türkiye’s first national frigate, and the first ship to be constructed under the İ-Class Frigate Programme – an extension of the MiLGEM Programme.

TCG İSTANBUL is noted for its capabilities in underwater and surface warfare roles and in air defence, but also in outpost, reconnaissance, surveillance, target detection, identification, recognition and early warning roles. The first national frigates, the length of which have been extended by 13 meters due to changes in the equipment and additions to the weapon systems used in the ADA-Class ships, have a displacement of 3,000 tons, a length of 113 meters and a beam of 14.4 meters. TCG İSTANBUL differs from ADA-Class corvettes in terms of its guided air-defence missile payloads. STM is acting as the ship’s performance supervisor, and is carrying out works related to design, including the preparation of design documents and workmanship drawings, the supply, testing and integration of all materials and systems aboard the ship, and the provision of logistics support.

A total of 220 companies have contributed to the İ-Class Frigate Programme, including 80 subcontractors working on the supply of more than 150 systems.