The construction of the TCG Heybeliada corvette was completed using nearly 11,000 drawings and documents and approximately 1,000 tons of ship construction steel, approximately 10 km of pipes, 240 km of cables and 10,000 equipment and instruments, stated Perçin, and added that 5,000 individuals were provided employment through this project. Perçin further added that a total of 74 different systems, materials and service purchase contracts were signed with local companies and with the contribution of all the elements that make up our defence industry, nationally built critical technology and military systems were realized and as a result of these efforts a 65% local content rate was achieved in project cost.

In the briefing, Col. Enis Perçin also provided information on the components that take place in MILGEM’s CMS. In the said CMS, a national sonar system; an electronic support system that identifies the target through electromagnetic sounds; a stabilized, electro-optical and remote controlled 12.7 mm machine gun platform system (STAMP); a scrambled firing system against guided missiles; an infrared tracking management system against guided missiles and nationally developed combat and defence systems take part. Explaining that for the first time a ship of this size had the form optimization, model tests, maneuver and maritime calculations done domestically Perçin said that the finite element analysis, the 3D modeling and electrical system design was realized, the design formed by local means and had received a patent and had been registered.

Emphasizing that the MILGEM corvette project was not only a combat ship design and integration project, Col. Perçin said: “The coordination of the elements that make up our national defence industry, creating value added in terms of the national economy, reducing overseas dependence and the most important element of the potential that our nation possesses, in terms of proof to the world, our national engineering strength, makes it in a real sense a technological breakthrough project.”

After the briefing the TCG Heybeliada was shown to the press members and information provided on the ship’s Combat Operations Center, navigation center and the staterooms.
A TURKISH DESIGNED CORVETTE

First conceived as a concept in 1993, the MILGEM Project commenced with the decision of the Defence Industry Executive Committee at its meeting on 14 May 2004. Its first welding took place on 26 July 2005 and construction started on 22 January 2007. The first prototype of the MILGEM Project, the Heybeliada, was launched on 27 September 2008. After the port acceptance tests, cruise tests and the completion of the international standards qualification, the ship was commissioned on Naval Forces Day, 27 September 2011.

The design, construction and integration of the TCG Heybeliada which was build completely with national efforts and which is in compliance with national and international military standards carries the distinction of being the first ship of the MILGEM Project that is a corvette type warship and nationally designed and built.

With a monohull, displacement type form, the TCG Heybeliada is 99.5 m in length, 14.4 m in width with a displacement of 2,300 gross tons and a maximum speed of 30 knots. Additionally, the ship has the necessary platform, hanger and support equipment for a 10-ton S-70-B2 Sea Hawk. The Corvette’s main propulsion system comprises of one gas turbine and two diesel engines that provide 32 MW of power and a cruising speed of 30 nautical miles. An Integrated Platform Control and Monitoring System (EPKIS) provides control, command and monitoring of the main drive and propulsion system, the electrical power generation/distribution system and other ship service systems.

In order to perform the operational duties assigned to her, the Heybeliada is equipped with air, above water, underwater and electronic warfare advanced surveillance and tracing systems; guided missile and artillery systems against above water and air targets; a torpedo system against underwater targets; an electronic support and laser warning system with RF/laser guided radar and missile detection system and high- tech communications system. The information compiled from the sensors of the MILGEM CMS, managed from the combat operations center, assigns weapons and transfers the target information to other platforms. In addition, by means of an open system architecture, all types of weapons and sensors can be integrated to the CMS. The ship which can communicate underground by means of sound waves has a stealth class status. Able to detect torpedo attacks, the ship can misguide the communications system of the enemy by signal beams. The Heybeliada has a 3,500 nautical mile range without refueling and can stay at sea for 21 days with and 10 days without logistic support.

After being included in the inventory as the first ship of the MILGEM Project, the second ship Büyükada will have the same configuration as the Heybeliada and after the required integrations have taken place will be delivered to the Naval Forces Command in September 2013.