Istanbul-class frigate


The Istanbul-class frigates are a group of ten multirole frigates currently being constructed for the Turkish Naval Forces and the Indonesian Navy. Developed under the MILGEM national warship program as the I-class frigate, the Istanbul class is an enlarged version of the anti-submarine corvette, with enhanced endurance and MiDLAS vertical launching system for multi-role capability.
On 19 January 2017, Turkish Navy held a ceremonial steel cut for the lead ship TCG Istanbul. Istanbul was laid down on 3 July 2017 and launched on 23 January 2021.

History and background

The Istanbul class has its origins in the Turkish MILGEM project for developing national warships and warship building industry. The program calls for the construction of a warship family in three classes, where all vessels would be designed with high degree of commonality. The first product of the project emerged as the Ada-class anti-submarine/patrol corvette. The Istanbul class, originally known as the TF-100 class under the MILGEM-G designation, belongs to the second development phase, where the structure of the Ada class corvette is extended to host multi-role capabilities.

Design

The Istanbul-class frigate is an enlarged variant of the Ada-class corvette and features a larger hull for improved endurance. In addition to retaining the guns, self protection and anti-submarine warfare systems of the Ada-class, the Istanbul-class frigates will have twice the number of anti-ship missiles and will be equipped with the indigenous MDAS vertical launching system, capable of firing HISAR and other missiles, along with other systems for improved multi-role combat capabilities. The experience and technological know-how gained with the Istanbul class will play an important role in determining the design characteristics and the development process of the TF2000-class destroyers, as well as the selection of the systems and equipment which will be used on these significantly larger and more capable warships.
The first ship of the class, TCG Istanbul, was laid down on 19 January 2017. The fifth and largest modern warship to be both indigenously designed and built in Turkey under the MILGEM program, it is claimed that more than 75% of its systems are of indigenous manufacture. Its steel cutting ceremony was attended by Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Işık and senior military officers, including Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu, Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces.
Construction took six years and the vessel was commissioned into service on 19 January 2024.

Export

It was stated in Aselsan's 2023 Annual Report that the Istanbul-class frigate was exported to an unnamed Middle Eastern country.
Indonesian shipyard PAL Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding with TAIS Shipyards on procuring the Istanbul-class frigate in June 2025. Minister of Defense of Indonesia, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, signed the procurement contract for two frigates on 26 July 2025. On 19 January 2026, during the DIMDEX 2026 expo in Doha, Qatar, TAIS Shipyards signed a US$1 billion agreement with Barzan Holdings of Qatar to supply TCG İzmir and İçel to the Indonesian Navy. Barzan Holdings will provide the loan to Indonesia for the acquisition of the frigates. Turkish media Defence Turk claimed that the export agreement is yet to be confirmed as there are issues which are "under negotiation".

Ships in the class

Pennant no.NameNamesakeBuilderLaunchedCommissionedStatusNote
F-515IstanbulIstanbul Naval Shipyard23 January 202119 January 2024
F-516İzmirAnadolu Shipyard10 January 2025Launched
F-517İzmitSedef Shipyard11 January 2025Launched
F-518İçelSefine Shipyard1 September 2025Launched
F-519TCG AkdenizMediterranean SeaAnadolu ShipyardUnder Construction
F-520TCG KaradenizBlack SeaSedef ShipyardUnder Construction
F-521TCG EgeEgeSefine Shipyard
F-522TCG MarmaraMarmaraAnadolu Shipyard