On Saturday, January 11, the Turkish Defence Agency (SSB) reported the launching of two of its new Istif-class frigates, the second and third units that make up the new fleet destined for the Turkish Navy. The launching of both ships took place almost simultaneously at two shipyards belonging to the TAIS consortium, which is composed of Sefine, Anadolu, and Sedef, responsible for constructing the class.

The news was confirmed by Professor Haluk Görgün, the director of the SSB, who stated: “IZMIR (F-516) and IZMIT (F-517), two of the frigates from the I-class of MİLGEM (ISTIF), have been successfully launched under the coordination of the Turkish Defense Agency (SSB), in partnership with TAİS and STM. Following the previous delivery of TCG ISTANBUL (F-515), these national frigates will demonstrate Turkey’s strength and determination on the seas of the world.”

Regarding some details, it should be noted that the construction and launching of the TCG Izmir (the second of the class) was carried out by Anadolu, while the TCG Izmit (the third in the series) was produced by the Sedef shipyard. The fourth ship of the future Istif frigate fleet, the TCG İçel, is still under construction by the Sefine shipyard, with its launch scheduled for the upcoming weeks. Regarding the percentage of local components used in construction, Görgün himself declared that it reaches up to 80%.

Additionally, in relation to the Turkish Navy’s MILGEM program, it is worth mentioning that in January 2024, the Defense Industry Executive Committee approved the construction of another four frigates, which would bring the total number of Istif-class ships to eight. Like the previous units, the construction would be carried out by the local military-industrial complex, reflecting Ankara’s strong push for the modernization of its fleets.

Some known features of the new Istif frigates for the Turkish Navy include their displacement of about 3,000 tons, contained within 113.2 meters in length and a beam of 14.4 meters. With a General Electric LM2500 gas turbine working alongside two MTU diesel engines, each ship is capable of reaching maximum speeds exceeding 29 knots, and sustaining a cruising speed of 14 knots.

In terms of armament, the new Istif-class presents a 76mm Super Rapid main gun, a Gokdeniz Aseslan CIWS gun, and two remotely controlled 25mm STOP gun stations. Complementing these systems, the units feature new 16-cell Vertical Launch Systems (VLS), capable of launching MIDLAS missiles for air defense; as well as ATACMS anti-ship missiles and MK-46 Mod 5 light torpedo launchers. Lastly, regarding the sensors equipping the ships, the integration of an AESA CENK-S radar and the LPI ALPER-P navigation radar, both produced by Aseslan, stands out.

Images used for illustrative purposes.

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