TCG İSTANBUL (F-515) is Turkey’s first indigenous frigate and the lead ship of the second phase of the MİLGEM (National Ship) project, known as the İstif-class. Constructed through the collaboration of Turkish engineering and the national defense industry, TCG İSTANBUL is a modern warship designed to conduct a range of missions, including anti-submarine and surface warfare, air defense, advanced patrol, reconnaissance, surveillance, target detection, and early warning operations.

^{TCG İstanbul (F-515) - (AA)}

History

As the first ship of the MİLGEM İ-class frigate project, developed as a continuation of the MİLGEM ADA-class corvettes, a contract for TCG İSTANBUL (F-515) was signed between the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and STM Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. on April 12, 2019.

The vessel was launched on January 23, 2021, and following outfitting in a floating dock and harbor acceptance trials, it embarked on its maiden voyage on June 20, 2023, after a flag-raising ceremony. As part of the centenary celebrations of the Republic of Turkey, TCG İSTANBUL participated in a naval parade of 100 ships on the Bosphorus and in the 250th anniversary events of the Turkish Naval Academy. The frigate was officially commissioned into the Turkish Naval Forces Command with a ceremony held on January 19, 2024.

^{TCG İSTANBUL (F-515) Underway in the Bosphorus during the 100th Anniversary Celebrations of the Republic - (AA)}

Project and Production Information

TCG İSTANBUL was designed and constructed by Turkish engineers at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command. As the first of the MİLGEM İ-class frigates, the vessel achieved a local content rate of 80%, holding the distinction of being the Turkish warship with the highest domestic production rate to date. In the project, STM served as the main contractor, with contributions from over 220 domestic companies, including major defense industry enterprises such as ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, and Roketsan.

Weapons and Systems Configuration

• Roketsan ATMACA Anti-Ship Cruise Missile
• MİDLAS Vertical Launching System (VLS)
• ASELSAN Gökdeniz Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
• ASELSAN Cenk-S AESA Search Radar
• HAVELSAN ADVENT Combat Management System
• Indigenous Electronic Warfare Systems
• A variety of modern sonar, radar, and electro-optical systems

^{MIDLAS Vertical Launching System (VLS) Test on TCG İSTANBUL (F-515) Frigate - (AA)}