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Anadolu Shipyard Lays Keel of Fifth Turkish Navy Istif Frigate

Anadolu Shipyard has laid the keel of the fifth Istif-class frigate for the Turkish Naval Forces as part of the service’s 2020 national warship modernization effort, according to multiple sources.

The milestone for the yet unnamed craft follows the launch of the initiative’s second and third vessels, the TCG İzmir and the TCG İzmit, days before the event.

Delivery of the fleet’s lead ship, the TCG Istanbul, was completed exactly one year before the latest ceremony.

Turkey’s Warship Expansion

The Turkish defense ministry’s national warship program aims to replace the navy’s Yavuz-class frigates, which have been operational since the 1980s, with up to eight vessels.

Design for the advanced fleet was awarded to STM Defence, with the order being slightly bigger compared to the military’s existing Ada-class corvettes but with similar warfare capabilities.

Work for TCG Istanbul’s sister hulls is currently being facilitated simultaneously across three sites under Anadolu, Define, and Sedef Shipyards, with deliveries expected by 2026.

TAIS Shipyards, another local defense industry partner, received a contract in 2024 for three additional Istifs to complete Turkey’s planned systems.

The Istif-Class Frigate

The Istif-class platform measures 113 meters (371 feet) long and has accommodation for more than 100 personnel.

It can carry rigid hull inflatable boats, unmanned aerial systems, and an S-70B Seahawk helicopter to support the vessel’s maritime protection, firepower, and anti-submarine functions.

The system is fitted with various sensors, an electronic warfare suite, a 76-millimeter main gun, 35-millimeter dual-barreled close-in weapon systems, anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles, as well as torpedo launchers.

The Istif is powered by twin propellers, a General Electric gas turbine, and two MTU diesel engines for a top speed of 29 knots (54 kilometers/33 miles per hour) and a range of 5,700 nautical miles (10,556 kilometers/6,559 miles).

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