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Türkiye launched TCG Akdeniz, the fifth Istif-class frigate and ninth vessel in the National Ship (MILGEM) program, at a ceremony on Monday as the country continues expanding its indigenous naval production capabilities.
The launching ceremony took place at Anadolu Shipyard on Feb. 2 with senior officials from the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) in attendance.
TCG Akdeniz (F-519) is the first vessel from an additional batch of four Istif-class frigates that raised the total number of this class to eight ships for the Turkish Navy.
"With the launching activity we carried out at our shipyard on Monday with the valuable executives of our Presidency of Defense Industries, we successfully launched MILGEM 9th Ship Akdeniz," Anadolu Shipyard announced on X.
"Construction processes of the ships belonging to the project are being successfully continued in line with the work carried out within the scope of the procurement contract signed between TAIS and STM business partnership and the Presidency of Defense Industries," the company noted.
The shipyard confirmed that construction and outfitting activities for the sixth, ninth and 12th ships continue according to the planned schedule.
The Istif-class Frigate Project, the second phase of MILGEM, represents one of Türkiye's most strategic defense moves to elevate the country's maritime deterrence capabilities.
The vessels are built upon the design heritage of the Ada-class corvettes.
TCG Istanbul (F-515), the lead ship of the class, entered the Turkish Naval Forces Command inventory on Jan. 19, 2024, earning the title of Türkiye's first indigenous frigate.
The project achieves over 80% domestic content, critically reducing dependence on foreign suppliers while replacing aging platforms such as the Gabya-class frigates.
STM, which leads the design and engineering work, celebrated the milestone on social media platform X. "A New Power to Blue Homeland: Akdeniz Frigate Meets the Waters! The 5th ship of the MILGEM Istif-Class Frigate project, built under the leadership of our Presidency of Defense Industries in TAIS JV and STM Business Partnership, Akdeniz, met the blue waters at Anadolu Shipyard," STM stated.
"We will continue to reinforce our independence at sea with our national engineering capabilities," the company noted.
The Istif-class program encompasses eight frigates at various stages of completion:
Like the second through fourth ships, TCG Akdeniz features a longitudinally extended housing for the MILDAS Vertical Launch System (VLS).
The Istif-class frigates carry sophisticated combat systems featuring 3D search radar, electro-optical sensors, fire control radars, hull-mounted sonar, an electronic warfare suite, torpedo tubes, national surface-to-surface guided missile system.
Along with these systems, the frigate also contains a vertical launch system, 25mm stabilized guns, a close-in weapon system, 76mm main battery, laser warning system, infrared search and track system, and torpedo countermeasure system.
The Indonesian Navy has become the first export customer of the Istif-class frigate, with an order for two ships announced during IDEF 2025.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between Qatari Barzan Holdings and TAIS Shipyards as part of the export deal for the two frigates.
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