Türkiye marked another milestone in its indigenous naval shipbuilding program with the launch of TCG İçel (F-518), the eighth vessel built under the MILGEM (National Ship) Project’s I-Class frigate program. The ceremony was held at Sefine Shipyard in Yalova, with senior officials and defense industry representatives in attendance.
According to Haluk Görgün, President of the Defense Industry Agency, TCG İçel incorporates up to 80% domestically produced systems, ranging from radars and sonars to fire control systems and anti-ship missiles.
“MILGEM is not merely a shipbuilding initiative — it is the embodiment of Türkiye’s determination to stand on its own feet in defense, its advanced engineering capabilities, and its vision for national production,” Görgün said in a written statement.
Symbol of Naval Independence
Görgün highlighted that more than 200 institutions and companies contributed to the construction of the frigate, underscoring the project’s role as a collective achievement of Türkiye’s defense ecosystem. He added that Türkiye is now among the countries building the largest number of naval vessels simultaneously, ranging from patrol boats to aircraft carriers, and exporting them to allied nations.
He described TCG İçel as a “symbol of Türkiye’s confidence at sea”, noting that the ship strengthens both the Turkish Navy’s deterrence and the defense industry’s technological depth.
“This achievement is not only the pride of our Navy but also the shared vision of our defense industry stakeholders,” Görgün said. “Each new vessel launched into our ‘Blue Homeland’ strengthens not only our security but also demonstrates our engineering power and independence to the world.”
A New Century of Naval Power
The launch of TCG İçel comes shortly after the successful TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland defense technology exhibition. Görgün underlined that the frigate will further reinforce Türkiye’s strategic resolve and naval deterrence as the country enters the second century of its Republic.
With the I-Class frigate program covering ships six through twelve of the MILGEM series, Türkiye continues to expand its indigenous fleet, solidifying its position as a rising naval power with ambitions to project influence across its surrounding seas.
