Anadolu Shipyard carried out the launch of the Turkish Navy’s fifth İstif-class multi-role frigate, marking another milestone within the MILGEM naval programme aimed at strengthening Türkiye’s surface fleet capabilities. The unit, named Akdeniz, was floated out at the shipyard’s facilities as part of the I-class frigate project—another designation used for the İstif class—developed under the direction of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries. With this step, the country continues expanding and modernizing its naval component with ships designed and built largely at the local level.
The frigate Akdeniz is the fifth ship of the İstif-class frigate project and was built under an industrial cooperation framework involving the TAİS Shipyards consortium and the naval engineering firm STM, which serves as the program’s prime contractor. From the industrial side, it was reported that the ceremony was attended by senior officials from Türkiye’s Defence Industry Agency (SSB), underscoring the project’s strategic relevance for the country.
The program is part of the MILGEM National Ship Project, conceived as an evolution of the Ada-class corvettes and intended to progressively replace the Yavuz-class frigates (MEKO 200TN Track I), which have been in service for several decades. The first unit of the class, TCG İstanbul (F-515), was delivered to the Turkish Navy in January 2024, marking the start of the delivery schedule for this new generation of surface escorts.
In parallel with progress on the fifth unit, Anadolu Shipyard also reported significant advances on other frigates within the program. In audiovisual material released by the company, the future TCG İzmir—the sixth ship of the MILGEM program and the second I-class frigate—can be seen in the fitting-out phase, with its main armament already installed, including vertical launch systems, naval artillery, and point-defense systems, as well as its sensors. According to Türkiye’s Defence Industry objectives for 2026 published by the SSB, TCG İzmir is expected to enter service during the course of this year.
The shipyard stated: “Within the scope of the procurement agreement signed between the Presidency of Defence Industries and the TAIS–STM joint venture, construction activities for the ships under the project continue successfully.”It added: “As part of the MILGEM Project, construction and outfitting activities for the sixth, ninth, and twelfth ships at our shipyard are progressing in accordance with the planned schedule.”
The development of the İstif-class frigates has also had an impact internationally. In August 2025, during the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul, the TAIS Shipyards consortium signed a contract with Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence for the sale of two multi-role frigates of this class, in an agreement valued at approximately one billion dollars. During the announcement, the President of Turkiye’s Defence Industry Agency (SSB), Haluk Görgün, stated: “This marks Türkiye’s first export of MILGEM-class ships to Indonesia and represents a significant milestone in strategic naval cooperation.”
Indonesia’s adoption of these platforms falls under its military modernization plan known as the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) 2024–2029, aimed at renewing naval capabilities amid a more complex regional environment. In this context, the sustained progress of the MILGEM program and the launch of frigate Akdeniz further consolidate Türkiye’s position as a relevant actor in the development and export of domestically designed warships.
*Images obtained from STM.
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