Keel Laying Ceremony Held for Portuguese Logistics Support Ships

STM, Türkiye’s leading naval engineering company, has marked a new milestone in its historic naval export project for the Portuguese Navy by holding the keel laying ceremony for the Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ship in Istanbul. Executed under STM’s prime contractor role, the project represents Türkiye’s first-ever military ship export to a European Union (EU) and NATO member country.

STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş., known for developing indigenous and innovative defence systems, has advanced to a new phase in its historic naval export success. The project is being executed under STM’s main contractor role and stands as a landmark achievement for Türkiye’s defence and naval engineering sectors.

Background to the project includes STM’s selection as the winning bidder in the Portuguese Navy’s Logistics Support Ship tender, where the company outperformed several leading international shipbuilders. The contract for the project was signed on 17 December 2024 in Lisbon, followed by the completion of the design phase and a steel cutting ceremony held two months ago, which marked the start of construction activities.

The keel laying ceremony for the first Logistics Support Ship currently under construction in Istanbul took place on 29 January at ADA Shipyard.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of National Defence of Portugal, Nuno Melo; the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Türkiye, Yaşar Güler; the President of the Secretariat of Defence Industries of Türkiye (SSB), Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün; the Chief of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu; the Chief of the Portuguese Navy, Admiral Nobre de Sousa; the Commanders of the Turkish Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force; SSB Vice Presidents; members of the Portuguese and Turkish Navies; and representatives of Turkish defence industry companies.

Minister Güler: The Project Reflects Shared Experience Between Türkiye and Portugal

Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler delivered the following remarks during the ceremony:

“This project represents a significant gain for Türkiye and Portugal—two nations with deep-rooted maritime traditions—in terms of experience and technology sharing. With their original design, high speed, extensive cargo capacity, operational flexibility, and modular architecture enabling integration into a wide range of missions, I firmly believe that these ships will effectively meet the strategic objectives and operational requirements of the Portuguese Navy.

Once commissioned, the vessels will further enhance the Portuguese Navy’s capabilities in peacekeeping, stability, and crisis management, while also making positive contributions to NATO’s collective capabilities. The effective process management of our Presidency of Defence Industries, the production discipline of our shipyards, the project management expertise of the prime contractor STM, and the dedicated efforts of our subcontractors and domestic companies provide strong assurance for this project, while also reflecting the breadth and depth of our defence industry ecosystem as a whole.”

Melo: We Combined Our Naval Concept with Türkiye’s Maritime Expertise

Portuguese Minister of Defence Nuno Melo emphasized that the project reflects the mutual trust between the navies and defence industries of Türkiye and Portugal. Noting that Portugal’s naval concepts and expertise have been combined with Türkiye’s maritime industry capabilities, Melo expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to the project.

Görgün: Preparations Have Begun for the Second Vessel

President of the Secretariat of Defence Industries of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün noted that the contract signed in 2024 marked a historic step for STM and the Portuguese Navy, stating:

“As two Mediterranean nations with deep-rooted maritime traditions, our connection to the sea defines both our history and our future. This project stands as a strong symbol of our defence industry cooperation. It demonstrates that when two allies share a common vision, maritime heritage can be transformed into modern strategic capabilities. This vessel will play a critical role in meeting Portugal’s operational requirements under its new security concept.”

Emphasizing that their commitment is not limited to the first vessel, Görgün stated that preparations have already begun for the second ship, whose construction is planned to start later this year, with keel laying scheduled by June 2026.

Güleryüz: A New Milestone in Türkiye–Portugal Naval Cooperation

Speaking at the ceremony, STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz emphasized STM’s position as a trusted partner for global navies:

“Primarily serving the Turkish Navy, STM also contributes to the defence capabilities of friendly and allied navies, from Ukraine to Portugal and from Pakistan to Malaysia. Today marks an important milestone as our engineering efforts for the Portuguese Navy’s Logistics Support Ship move forward into the construction phase. With experience gained from 44 naval projects carried out across 11 different shipyards, and our expertise in delivering NATO-compliant platforms, we are proud to support Portugal with reliable and mission-ready naval solutions. Following a planned and efficient construction process, we aim to launch the ships in 2027 and deliver them to the Portuguese Navy in 2028.”

Multi-Role Capability

The construction of the Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ships, a project considered a significant milestone in showcasing Türkiye’s advancements in naval engineering, will feature a modular design. In addition to providing logistical support, transferring fuel and cargo at sea, the ships will have the capacity to transport armored vehicles, enabling them to support joint and amphibious operations. With a stern ro-ro ramp, each vessel will be capable of carrying up to 20 light tactical armored vehicles. Thanks to their modular, unique, and versatile design, the vessels will also be equipped to undertake humanitarian aid, search and rescue, and medical missions during crises. Fitted with an Integrated Communication System, the ships will have command and control capabilities that will enable efficient fleet coordination.

Sustained Operations and Versatile Capabilities

The vessels, measuring 137 meters in length with a displacement over 11,000 tones and a maximum speed of over 18 knots, will be capable of operating continuously at sea for up to 30 days. Each ship will accommodate 100 personnel and transport up to 20 light tactical armored vehicles. Equipped with advanced sensors and weapon systems, the ships will primarily support air defence operations while being capable of engaging in all principal warfare functions. The vessels will feature close-in weapon systems, 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon systems and chaff/decoy systems, alongside a range of advanced sensors. For helicopter operations, the ships will include a landing platform for helicopters and UAVs, as well as a UAV hangar.