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Türkiye's TF-2000 air defense destroyer, known as the Tepe-class, described as the naval extension of the country's Steel Dome integrated air defense architecture, will be launched by the end of 2027, the commander of Istanbul Naval Shipyard stated.
The first structural block of the warship is set to be placed on the slipway this month.
Istanbul Naval Shipyard Commander Rear Admiral Recep Erdinc Yetkin told Haber Global that the TF-2000 Air Defense Destroyer project is the maritime dimension of Türkiye's Steel Dome air defense concept.
"The TF-2000 Air Defense Destroyer Project, which has regional air defense warfare capability, will be the naval extension of our project called Steel Dome. Steel cuts have been made, the test flight ramp is completely finished," he stated.
"We will continue project activities without interruption by placing it at an airport designated for aircraft testing very soon. Allah willing, we aim to launch it by late 2027," Yetkin noted.
ASFAT Naval Programs Director Kerem Orcun Yuksekdag also confirmed that the first block of the lead ship will be placed on the slipway this month.
"In March, we will place the first block on the sliding slipway and the ship will begin to take shape," Yuksekdag told Haber Global.
He said ASFAT signed the main contractor agreement with the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and that work on the project is ongoing at the shipyard.
The TF-2000 is designed by the Turkish Navy Design Project Office and will have an overall length of 149 meters, a beam of 21.3 meters, a draft of 5.75 meters and a displacement of 8,300 tons.
Maximum speed is listed at more than 26 knots, with a cruising speed of 17 knots.
Yuksekdag noted that the ship will feature a 96-cell vertical launch system (VLS) developed entirely with domestic and national capabilities.
"There will be a total of 96-cell fully domestic and national vertical launch system on this ship as well," he said, noting that an earlier version of the domestic launcher has already been installed on TCG Istanbul, which is currently in service with the Turkish Naval Forces Command.
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Yetkin also said the mock flight deck for Türkiye's national aircraft carrier project, MUGEM, has been completed and will be transferred to an airport for aircraft testing "very soon."
"Steel cuts have been made. The test flight ramp is completely finished. We will continue without interruption by placing it at an airport designated for aircraft tests, and we aim to launch it by late 2027," Yetkin stated.
MUGEM is planned as a STOBAR carrier intended to operate the Bayraktar TB3 STOL unmanned combat aerial vehicle, naval derivatives of the Kizilelma unmanned fighter aircraft (UFA) and the ANKA-III unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).
A naval version of the Hurjet aircraft is also known to be in development for the carrier.
Yetkin also added that Türkiye's shipbuilding export record has been growing steadily, with one MILGEM corvette built and delivered to Ukraine, two ships built for Pakistan and an Offshore Patrol Vessel built for Romania.
He said a frigate sale to Indonesia is now on the agenda.
"These are important in terms of sustainability, for the continuity of a sustainable shipbuilding infrastructure. Interoperability, as we call it in the trainings, exercises and missions we conduct with our friends and allies, is very important," Yetkin concluded.
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