Türkiye`s First National Frigate TCG Istanbul Begins Sea Trials
On June 20, 2023, during a ceremony held at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command, the Turkish flag was hoisted on the TCG Istanbul (F-515) Frigate, which was constructed as part of the ISTIF Class Frigate Project carried out by the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) for the Turkish Naval Forces Command (TNFC). The frigate embarked on its first sea voyage on the same day, officially commencing the Sea Acceptance Tests (SAT).
The 'Steel-Cutting Ceremony' of TCG Istanbul took place on January 19, 2017, at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command, and the frigate was launched on January 23, 2021, with a ceremony. During the Teknofest Istanbul Aerospace and Technology Festival, I had the opportunity to talk with a naval officer who mentioned that the temporary acceptance of TCG Istanbul was scheduled to take place on May 29, 2023, followed by the start of the Sea Acceptance Tests (SAT). The TCG Istanbul Frigate is planned to be delivered to the Turkish Navy on September 6, 2023.
According to my source, who participated in the first voyage of the TCG Istanbul Frigate, only diesel engines were activated in the initial sea trial, which was carried out successfully. Although there is a significant size and weight difference between the ISTIF-Class (I-Class) Frigates and ADA Class Corvettes, it is said that TCG Istanbul has a similar acoustic signature compared to the ADA Class. On the other hand, unlike TCG Istanbul, which is equipped with MTU 4000 Series MTU 20V4000M93L diesel engines, the sister ships will use MAN diesel engines (most likely MAN Spain) instead of German MTU diesel engines. Thus, after TCG Anadolu LHD and HISAR Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), MAN diesel engines will also be used in the 6th, 7th, and 8th ships of the MILGEM program. Hopefully, TCG Istanbul will successfully complete the Sea Acceptance Test (SAT) process and enter service with the Turkish Navy this year as planned...
Contract for ISTIF-Class Frigates Signed Between STM & SSB in 2019
The contract for the construction of the TCG Istanbul (F-515) Frigate, the lead ship of the MILGEM ISTIF-Class Frigate Project, was signed between the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) and the Main Contractor STM on April 12, 2019, and the contract came into effect on September 27, 2019.
The other three ships for the Turkish Navy will be constructed under the "MILGEM 6th, 7th, and 8th Ships Procurement Project" by STM-TAIS Joint Venture at SEFINE, ADIK, and SEDEF Shipyards, respectively. The ships will be constructed simultaneously in three different shipyards and are planned to be delivered to the Turkish Navy within a 36-month timeline following the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), Harbor Acceptance Test (HAT), and Sea Acceptance Test (SAT). Under the project, the contract for MILGEM 6th, 7th, and 8th Ships was signed on April 6, 2023, and the steel-cutting ceremony for these ships was conducted on April 10, 2023, at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command, along with the delivery ceremony of TCG Anadolu LHD Ship to the Turkish Naval Forces.
The ISTIF Class Frigates, with all their sensors and weapon systems developed domestically, will also be equipped with national air defense capabilities. Additionally, nationalization efforts will continue in various areas, such as the Main Gun, Helicopter Secure and Traverse System, and various components of the Main Propulsion System.
General Information About ISTIF-Class Frigates
The ISTIF Class Frigates hold critical importance for the Turkish Defense Industry, with their significantly different features from the ADA Class Corvettes and a high proportion of domestically produced weapons and electronic systems. These frigates stand out with their capabilities in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and anti-air warfare (AAW), and conducting advanced patrol, reconnaissance, surveillance, target detection, identification, recognition, and early warning activities.
The TCG Istanbul Frigate was stated to have a length of 113.2m, a width of 14.4m, a depth of 7.75m, a draft of 4.05m, and a displacement of 3,000 tons. The TCG Istanbul is fitted with the 16-cell National Vertical Launching System (MIDLAS) behind the 76mm Super Rapid Naval Gun supplied by Italian company Leonardo (which was observed to be installed in November 2022). It was noted that the total height of the MIDLAS is 8m. The first firing test on land with the MIDLAS was successfully conducted in December 2022 at the Aksaray Test Range using the HISAR-D/RF Missile.
During the keel-laying ceremony of the PNS KHAIBAR Corvette held on November 25, 2022, at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, I had the opportunity to see and photograph the steel housing of the 16-cell MIDLAS launcher on the TCG Istanbul. However, I have heard that dummy launchers are still installed on the ship. MIDLAS is expected to be ready by December 2023. Initially, the 16-cell Mk-41 VLS was planned to be used on the TCG Istanbul Frigate, and the SSB had assigned ROKETSAN to procure the Mk-41 VLS from the United States. On February 14, 2018, a contract was signed between the SSB and ROKETSAN for the procurement of 4 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) for ISTIF-Class Frigates. The contract was enacted on March 15, 2018, and Interface Working Group Meetings were held in June 2018 and January 2019. However, after the acquisition of the S-400 Triumph Air Defense Missile System, the US Government imposed CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye, resulting in the non-fulfillment of the Mk-41 VLS procurement. As a result, the decision to use MIDLAS, developed by ROKETSAN, on the ships. The 16-cell National Vertical Launching System (MIDLAS) was announced to allow the simultaneous use of both HISAR-D and ESSM (Evolved SeaSparrow Missile) B1 and B2 missiles. ROKETSAN was reported to be conducting a study to ensure that the National Vertical Launching System (MIDLAS) cells are compatible with the ESSM Block 2 Guided Missile. According to the Navy's planning, MIDLAS can accommodate a total of 64 (16x4) ESSM Block 2 missiles or 16 HISAR missiles or a combination of HISAR and ESSM Block 2 missiles in a quadpack configuration. As MIDLAS is a national launcher, the integration of ESSM requires an umbilical port (a connection system between the launcher and the missile). ROKETSAN had previously initiated efforts to develop an umbilical port-like system for ESSM integration with MIDLAS.
The lead ship of the class TCG Istanbul is equipped with the Leonardo naval gun, while the other three ships will be equipped with a 76mm Naval Gun produced by MKE. TCG Istanbul and its sister ships will utilize the domestically designed and produced Helicopter Secure and Traverse System (developed in collaboration between STM and ALTINAY SAVUNMA). It has been announced that various components of the Main Propulsion System used in MILGEM 6th, 7th, and 8th Ships, with a total displacement of 3,100 tons, will also be localized
