Contract for MILGEM 6th, 7th, and 8th Ships Signed
The contract for three additional modern frigates was signed as part of the ISTIF Class Frigates project, which is the continuation of the MLGEM Project carried out by the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) for the Turkish Naval Forces Command. The frigates will be constructed concurrently in three separate private shipyards over the course of 36 months and will be used by the Turkish Navy.
A contract signing ceremony was held in Ankara for the construction of three new frigates as part of the ISTIF Class Frigates project, which is the continuation of the MILGEM Project carried out by the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) for the needs of the Turkish Naval Forces Command. The signing ceremony held at the SSB was attended by İsmail DEMİR, President of the SSB; Özgür GÜLERYÜZ, General Manager of STM; Metin KALKAVAN, CEO of Sedef Shipyard and Chairman of the Board of TAIS; Süalp Ömer ÜRKMEZ, Chairman of the Board of Anadolu Shipyard; Demir KOLOĞLU, Chairman of the Board of Sefine Shipyard; and representatives of the defense sector.
In his speech at the ceremony, Cenk Cumhur KIYKIM, Head of Naval Platforms Department of the SSB stated the following: “The first ship of this project is currently under construction. We will deliver the first ship to the Turkish Naval Forces Command within this year. The tender process for the 6th, 7th, and 8th ships as part of the ISTIF Class frigates, which are the continuation of the MILGEM class ships, was carried out last year, and with the decision taken by SSIK on December 20, 2022, TAIS, a joint venture of Anadolu Shipyard, Sedef Shipyard, and Sefine Shipyard, and STM were selected as the main contractor. After going through the preliminary preparation stage, the contract negotiations were kick-off on January 9, 2023, and now we have attained the signing stage. These 113-meter-in length 3100-ton displacement ships will feature the CODAG main propulsion system. Our total installed power will be 31,600Kw. The maximum speed will be over 25knots. With the MILGEM 5th Ship, we are developing many systems indigenously. Some of these comprise 3D search radar, fire-control radar, close-in air defense system, torpedo tubes, vertical launch system, helicopter securing and transfer systems. As part of the contract to be signed today, we are also working to domestically develop the Air Defense System, Visual Landing Support System, and some propulsion components. In addition, we will also utilize our domestically developed 76mm national main gun on our ships. Our goal is to get our ships in the Turkish Naval Forces' inventory within a 36-month time frame. As part of the contract, our ships will be built concurrently in the Anadolu, Sedef, and Sefine shipyards.”
After the signing ceremony, Prof. İsmail DEMİR, President of the SSB gave a speech in which he stated the following: “Thanks to the domestic development of advanced technology critical systems of our ships, featuring numerous nationally developed platforms and combat systems, our local content rate in this field has reached 75 percent. We will now equip our ISTIF Class Frigates, for which we have indigenously developed all sensors and weapon systems, with national air defense capabilities. Our indigenization efforts will not be limited to this. We will keep working on many elements such as the Bow Gun, Helicopter Securing System, and various components of the Main Propulsion System, for instance. I wish success to all the companies that will take part in the construction of our frigates, which we will start construction in three separate shipyards simultaneously and complete in 36 months. We are steadfast in our pursuit of a fully independent defense industry under the direction of our President. I would like to express my belief that all kinds of restrictions imposed on our country and our Agency, directly or indirectly, will make us stronger and that our local content rate will further increase.”
