TCG İstanbul (F-515)
Türkiye’s FIRST National Frigate
A contract for the construction of the fifth MİLGEM ship (TCG İstanbul (F-515)) – the first ship in the MİLGEM İstif-Class frigate project, which is phase-II of the MİLGEM Ada-Class corvette project – was signed on 12 April, 2019 between our company and the Defence Industry Agency (SSB).
Following the launch of TCG İstanbul (F-515) on 23 January, 2021, the ship rigging in a dry dock and port acceptance tests were subsequently launched in May 2022.After the completion of the port acceptance tests, TCG İSTANBUL was put to sea for the first time for Sea Acceptance Tests after a flag hoisting ceremony held on 20 June, 2023.
TCG İSTANBUL joined the 100-ship official parade held by the Turkish Navy in the İstanbul Strait to mark the 100th anniversary of our Republic and the 250th anniversary of the Turkish Naval Academy, thus being introduced to our citizens and seafarers.TCG İSTANBUL was delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces Command (TNFC) at a ceremony held on 19 January 2024.
The national frigates and other vessels are to be equipped with a national electronic warfare system with a high indigenousness rate, as well as a new-generation national combat management system, improved weapon, radar and sensor systems, and advanced communication and navigation systems.
Features
As the first Turkish frigate to be designed by Turkish engineers, TCG İstanbul (F-515) has a different structure to that of the Ada-class corvettes. Significant momentum is being witnessed in Türkiye’s shipbuilding sector that is no more apparent than in the high rate of indigenousness in the armaments and electronic systems integrated into the vessels being constructed.
The target and achieved indigenousness rates for TCG İstanbul, the first of the MİLGEM İ-Class Frigates, were 75 and 80 percent, respectively, making TCG İSTANBUL the warship with the highest indigenousness rate in Türkiye. The domestic producers and suppliers that have been brought together for the MİLGEM project are responsible for two-thirds of the volume in the contract, with 80 subcontractor companies working on more than 150 systems in the İstif-Class frigate project, although a total of 220 different firms are involved.
İstif-Class frigates are optimised for anti submarine, surface and anti air warfare roles and ISR and early warning missions. The length of the National Frigate has been extended by 10 meters due to changes in the weapon systems and other additions, and the structure of the ship has also been adjusted.
The planned length and beam of the indigenous and national frigate TCG İstanbul (F-515) being built under the MİLGEM National Corvette Project, are 113 meters and 14.4 meters, respectively. TCG İstanbul (F-515) and the other İstif-Class frigates to be built will differ from the ADA-class corvettes in their ability to carry and launch homing surface-to-air missiles.
The national frigates and other vessels are to be equipped with a national electronic warfare system with a high indigenousness rate, as well as a new-generation national combat management system, improved weapon, radar and sensor systems, and advanced communication and navigation systems.
The supply of construction materials, and the preparation of design documents and workmanship drawings of the ship at Istanbul Shipyard Command, are among the main duties of STM. STM is also carrying out all integrated logistic support activities, and is responsible for the supply, testing and integration of all weapon systems, electronic systems and the main propulsion system.
MILGEM 6–12 Ship Procurement Contract
Türkiye’s first national frigate, TCG İSTANBUL, has paved the way for the procurement of three additional MILGEM İ-Class Frigates under the MILGEM İ-Class Frigate Procurement Project. The construction of these frigates has been entrusted to STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş. in cooperation with the Anadolu, Sedef, and Sefine shipyards, organized under the TAIS Joint Venture (TAIS JV).
As part of this project, a contract signing ceremony for ships 6, 7, and 8 was held on April 6, 2023, at the Presidency of Defence Industries of the Republic of Türkiye. Subsequently, on April 10, 2023, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officiated the steel-cutting ceremony for the three national frigates at Sedef Shipyard.
Under the STM–TAIS JV partnership, it is planned that each of the Anadolu, Sedef, and Sefine shipyards will simultaneously construct one İ-Class Frigate. All three national frigates are targeted for delivery within a period of 36 months.
Within this partnership, MILGEM 6 – İZMİR (F-516), constructed at Anadolu Shipyard, and MILGEM 7 – İZMİT (F-517), constructed at Sedef Shipyard, were launched in January 2025 after intensive construction activities and have now transitioned to the outfitting phase in drydock.
At the Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) meeting held on January 3, 2024, a decision was made to proceed with the construction of MILGEM İ-Class Frigates 9, 10, 11, and 12. Thus, the total number of İ-Class Frigates to be built under this project has been increased to eight.
Equipped entirely with domestically developed sensors and weapon systems, the İSTİF-Class Frigates will be outfitted with national air defense capabilities. Additionally, efforts continue toward indigenization in numerous areas, including the main gun, helicopter securing system, and various components of the main propulsion system.
Among the national solutions to be integrated into all three frigates are the Gökdeniz Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), Cenk-S 3D Search Radar, Akrep Fire Control Radar, Torpedo Tubes, National Vertical Launching System (MİDLAS), and Hisar-D air defense missiles.
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