Turkish Defence Agency Signs Contract With STM & TAIS Partnership For 3 I-Class Frigates
The Turkish Defence Agency (SSB) held a signing ceremony for the construction of the remaining three I-class (Istanbul-class) frigates for the Turkish Navy. The frigates will be built by a partnership involving Turkish companies STM and TAIS Shipyards.
Tayfun Ozberk 06 Apr 2023
The signing ceremony took place on April 06, 2023, at SSB’s premises in Ankara. SSB has reportedly awarded STM–TAIS partnership to build the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th I-class frigates. These frigates are the 6th, 7th, and 8th ships of the MILGEM project, the first ships are ADA -class corvettes and the 5th ship is TCG Istanbul, the lead ship of the I-class frigates.
The I-class Frigate Program was launched to construct four frigates to replace aging YAVUZ-class Frigates in the mid-2020s. Developed under the MILGEM indigenous warship program, the Istanbul class is an enlarged variant of the Ada-class anti-submarine corvette. The I-class Frigates will have around 50% increased fuel capacity and operational/sailing range capability compared to Ada-class Corvettes.
The I-class frigates have the configuration to conduct detection, determination of position, classification, identification, and destruction of the target and NGFS. The I-class Frigate is designed to conduct maritime surveillance and patrol operations, inspection, and surveillance of EEZ besides preventing potential threats.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/04/turkish-defence-agency-signs-contract-with-stm-tais-partnership-for-3-i-class-frigates/
