Turkey’s naval power took center stage at TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan, where the country’s first indigenous frigate, TCG İstanbul, and the modernized TCG Oruçreis were displayed side by side, symbolizing the transition from foreign-designed platforms to fully indigenous warships.
Frigates form the backbone of a modern navy, combining defensive and offensive capabilities across air, surface, subsurface, and electronic warfare domains. Known for their cost-effectiveness and strategic importance, frigates are emerging as the Turkish Navy’s most powerful assets as the defense industry integrates advanced indigenous technologies.
Commissioned in 1997 as part of the German-designed Barbaros-class, TCG Oruçreis has undergone extensive modernization under the “Barbaros-Class Frigate Mid-Life Upgrade Program.” Key systems—including fire-control radars, combat management systems, and the ship’s data distribution network—have been replaced with domestically developed solutions. With ASELSAN and HAVELSAN as prime contractors, the upgrades enhanced the vessel’s situational awareness, communication, defensive capabilities, and long-range strike potential, making it one of the Navy’s most capable combat platforms.
The modernization of Oruçreis has not only extended the life of the Barbaros-class but also served as a bridge to Turkey’s next-generation platforms. This evolution began with the MİLGEM project’s ADA-class corvettes and advanced with the design and construction of the I-class frigates.
Delivered in 2024, TCG İstanbul—built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard under STM’s leadership—represents a milestone in Turkish naval engineering, with a localization rate of 80%, the highest among Turkish warships. Measuring 113 meters in length and 14.4 meters in width, the frigate is designed for multi-domain operations including anti-submarine and surface warfare, air defense, electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and early warning missions.
Equipped with cutting-edge indigenous systems such as Roketsan’s ATMACA anti-ship missile, the MİDLAS vertical launch system, ASELSAN’s GÖKDENİZ close-in weapon system, the CENK-S AESA radar, and HAVELSAN’s ADVENT Combat Management System, TCG İstanbul is ranked among the world’s top five frigates in terms of design and technological sophistication.
With contributions from over 220 companies and more than 150 systems integrated, the I-class frigate project is expanding. The Turkish Navy has increased its order to eight vessels, with STM and the TAIS consortium overseeing the construction of seven additional frigates across three private shipyards.
At TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan, the symbolic link between TCG Oruçreis and TCG İstanbul highlighted not only Turkey’s naval modernization but also its determination to project greater indigenous power at sea. The next generation of Turkish frigates is set to take over the mantle as the most modern and powerful assets of the “Blue Homeland.”
