TCG Istanbul (F-515) at the Bosporus strait, during the naval parade for celebrating the centennial of the Turkish Republic, October 29, 2023.
Class overview
Name	Istanbul class
Builders	Istanbul Naval Shipyard
Operators	Turkish Naval Forces
Preceded by	Barbaros class
Built	2017–present
In commission	2024-present
Planned	8[2]
Building	3
Completed	1[1]
Active	1
General characteristics
Type	Multirole frigate
Displacement	3,100 tonnes
Length	113.2 m (371 ft 5 in)
Beam	14.40 m (47 ft 3 in)
Draft	4.05 m (13 ft 3 in)
Installed power	4 x 560kw Generator[3]
Propulsion	1 x LM2500 Gas turbine[3] 2 x 5.766HP MTU Diesel Machine[3] 2 x Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP)[3]
Speed	Economy: 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) Maximum: 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)
Range	5.700 nmi (10.556 km; 6.559 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)[3]
Boats & landing craft carried	2 x RHIB
Complement	123[3]
Sensors and processing systems	Radars: Cenk S 3D search radar, ASELSAN ALPER LPI Surface Radar , AKREP (AKR-D Block B-1/2) Fire Control Radar, ASELSAN PIRI IRST [4] Sonar: YAKAMOS or FERSAH[4] Communications: SATCOM , Link 11/16 ,Link 22 Local Area Network ,Internal Communication System , Underwater phone[3][5] Combat Management System: ADVENT[3]
Electronic warfare & decoys	ESM: ASELSAN ARES 2N[6] ECM: AREAS 2C[6] Decoy: Aselsan HIZIR Torpedo countermeasures system[6] Laser Warning Receiver System[3] Infrared Trace Management System[3] Reconnaissance and Surveillence system : SeaEye-AHTAPOT EO [4]
Armament	Guns: 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid or MKE National Naval Gun main gun[3] 1 × Aselsan GOKDENIZ 35 mm dual barreled CIWS[3] 2 × Aselsan STOP 25 mm RCWS[3] Anti-ship missiles: 16 × Atmaca anti-ship missiles[3] Vertical launching system: 16-cell MIDLAS Vertical Launching System:[6] upto 16 SAPAN or SIPER Surface-to-air missile[3][7] Torpedoes: 2 × 324 mm (13 in) Triple Torpedo launchers with MK-46M5 or Akya Torpedoes[3]
Aircraft carried	Hangar and platform for: S-70B Seahawk ASW helicopter Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

The Istanbul-class frigates are a group of four multirole frigates currently being constructed for the Turkish Naval Forces.^[8] Developed under the MILGEM national warship program as the I-class frigate, the Istanbul class is an enlarged version of the Ada-class anti-submarine corvette, with enhanced endurance and MDAS Vertical Launching System (VLS) for multi-role capability.^[6] On 19 January 2017, Turkish Navy held a ceremonial steel cut for the lead ship TCG Istanbul (F 515).^[9] Istanbul was laid down on 3 July 2017 and launched on 23 January 2021.^[10][6]

History and background

The Istanbul class has its origins in the Turkish MILGEM project for developing national warships and warship building industry. The program calls for the construction of a warship family in three classes, where all vessels would be designed with high degree of commonality. First product of the project emerged as Ada-class anti-submarine/patrol corvette. The Istanbul class, originally known as the TF-100 class under MILGEM-G designation, belongs to the second development phase, where structure of the Ada class vessel is extended to host multi-role capabilities. Third phase

Design

The Istanbul class^[11] is an enlarged variant of the Ada class and will feature a slightly larger hull for improved endurance. In addition to retaining the guns, self protection and anti-submarine warfare systems of the Ada class,^[12] the Istanbul class will have twice the number of anti-ship missiles^[12] and will be equipped with the indigenous MDAS vertical launching system,^[6] capable of firing HISAR and other missiles, along with other systems for improved multi-role combat capabilities. The experience and technological know-how gained with the Istanbul class will play an important role in determining the design characteristics and the development process of the TF-2000-class destroyers, as well as the selection of the systems and equipment which will be used on these significantly larger and more capable warships.

The first ship and nameship of the class, TCG Istanbul, was laid down on 19 January 2017. The fifth and largest modern warship to be both indigenously designed and built in Turkey, it is claimed that at least 75% of its systems will be of indigenous manufacture.^[13] Its steel cutting ceremony was attended by Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Işık and senior military officers, including Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu, Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces.

Construction took six years and the vessel was commissioned into service on 19 January 2024.^[14][15]

Export versions

Ukraine

In December 2020, Ukraine signed a contract for four corvettes. Industry sources say the builder, STM, may have to substitute some American-made parts in the MILGEM project architecture with locally made components due to a recent U.S. decision to sanction Turkey's procurement agency, the Presidency of Defense Industries.^[16]

Ships in the class