The National Frigate TCG İÇEL Launched into the Sea

The eighth vessel built for the Turkish Naval Forces under the MILGEM 6th–12th İstif-Class Frigates Procurement Project — constructed within the TAİS-STM OG joint venture — was ceremonially launched: TCG İÇEL (F-518).

STM, Türkiye’s engineering power at sea, continues to equip the Turkish Navy with domestically produced warships for the Blue Homeland. As the main contractor and detail designer of Türkiye’s first national frigate, TCG İSTANBUL (F-515), STM — together with the TAİS Joint Venture— has passed another important milestone in the production of seven sister frigates to TCG İSTANBUL.

The eighth ship of the program, TCG İÇEL (F-518), was launched at Sefine Shipyard on 1 September during a ceremony attended by Vice President of Defence Industries Mustafa Murat Şeker

SSB Vice President  and STM Chairman of the Board İhsan Kaya; senior officials from the producing partner institutions; representatives of subcontractors; leaders of various agencies; and numerous Turkish Naval Forces and shipyard personnel. The ship’s ceremonial float-out into the shipyard’s floating dock was conducted symbolically.

“More than 30 military vessels under construction at the same time”

In his remarks at the ceremony, Mustafa Murat Şeker said that they are rapidly delivering all platforms required by the Turkish Naval Forces: “We are doing something today that only a handful of countries can do. In our military and civilian shipyards alike, more than 30 military ships are being built simultaneously.”

Görgün: TCG İÇEL’s Local Content Rate is 80%

In a written statement, Secretary of Turkish Defence Industries, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün described the MILGEM program as “a concrete symbol of Türkiye’s resolve to stand on its own feet in the defense industry, of its high engineering capacity, and of its vision for domestic production.”

Referring to the project — carried out with contributions from more than 200 institutions, organizations and companies — Görgün said it continues to deliver firsts for Türkiye and noted that Türkiye is among the world’s leading countries in terms of simultaneous military shipbuilding. He added that TCG İÇEL contains many indigenous solutions across subsystems — from radar and sonar to fire-control systems and anti-ship missiles — with a local content rate reaching up to 80 percent. “This achievement is the product of a shared vision not only of the Turkish Navy but of all stakeholders in our defence industry,” he said.

TCG İÇEL: Strengthening the Turkish Navy

TCG İÇEL is one of two ships at Sefine Shipyard and is the eighth vessel of the MILGEM Project and the fourth of the İstif class. Construction began with steel cutting on 15 June 2023. The second and third İstif-class frigates, TCG İZMİR (F-516) and TCG İZMİT (F-517), were launched earlier in January.

Designed for operations in up to sea state 5, TCG İÇEL is equipped to perform surveillance, reconnaissance, patrol, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, air defence, sea-air operations, electronic warfare and self-defence against asymmetric threats, as well as search and rescue missions in all weather conditions. The frigate can also protect coastal shipping, monitor and counter terrorist activities at sea, and support amphibious operations.

The ship is 113 metres long with a displacement of approximately 3,200 tonnes and uses a combined gas turbine and diesel propulsion arrangement. It is capable of attaining speeds of 29 knots and above, and can conduct helicopter operations in the Black Sea, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, including under sea state 4 conditions.

At 95% fuel capacity the ship’s endurance is 5,700 nautical miles at 14 knots and 4,000 nautical miles at 18 knots. The flight deck can accommodate a 10-ton helicopter or ship-borne unmanned aerial vehicles for day and night take-off and landing.

The frigate incorporates domestically developed weapons, sensors and software from the Turkish defence industry. Indigenous systems aboard include the 76 mm Denizhan main gun, the Gökdeniz Close-In Air Weapon System, the MİDLAS vertical launch system and the Atmaca anti-ship missile. These weapons are integrated with domestically produced systems such as the 3D air and surface search radar, fire control radar, electro-optical search and tracking system, electronic warfare suite and the network-enabled ADVENT combat management system.