MILGEM project

Under the Offshore Patrol Vessel Project, initiated to meet the needs of the Turkish Naval Forces, the construction of ten offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) is planned. The first ship is scheduled to be launched in 2023. Developed as a variant of the MİLGEM-class corvettes, the Hisar class patrol ships has been redesigned with a different main propulsion system and a different structural and general layout concept, allowing it to be built in a shorter time and at a lower cost.

The primary missions of the OPVs to be built are intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), search and rescue (SAR), counterterrorism, maritime interdiction operations (MIO), and maritime special operations. Other missions include naval air operations, electronic and acoustic warfare, land bombardment, defense against asymmetric threats, maritime traffic protection, and support and training for amphibious operations.

The Hisar-class patrol ships is being built using the "fitted for but not with" concept, which allows for the integration of newly developed indigenous weapon and sensor systems. The OPV, which can accommodate a total of 104 people, will have a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) with its CODELOD (COmbined Diesel-eLectric Or Diesel) main propulsion system.

The Ada class is a class of anti-submarine corvettes developed primarily for the Turkish Navy during the first stage of the MILGEM project. The Turkish Navy has commissioned all four Ada-class corvettes. The design objective of the Ada class was to build a modern littoral combat ship, with national anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and high-seas patrol capabilities, while extensively using the principles of low observable technology in its design.[9]

The Istanbul-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 Istanbul-class frigates will have around 50% increased fuel capacity and operational/sailing range capability compared to Ada-class corvettes.

The Istanbul-class frigates have the configuration to conduct detection, determination of position, classification, identification, and destruction of the target and NGFS. The frigates are designed to conduct maritime surveillance and patrol operations, inspection, and surveillance of exclusive economic zone besides preventing potential threats.

These warships are multi-mission destroyers able to conduct anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) with SIPER surface-to-air missiles; tactical land strikes with GEZGIN cruise missiles; ASW with towed array sonar, anti-submarine rockets, and ASW helicopters; and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) with Atmaca missiles.[10]

The Babur-class corvette, also known as the PN MILGEM class, is a class of four heavy corvettes under construction for the Pakistan Navy. This class is a subclass of the Turkish MILGEM project. The corvette class is heavier and larger than the Turkish Ada-class corvette and are also equipped with a vertical launch system.

The MILDEN project is a multi-year military design and procurement project to develop indigenous air-independent power attack submarines, intended to be commissioned into the Turkish Navy in the 2030s. MILDEN is being designed in the Gölcük Naval Shipyard, where concept design was completed in 2022, and the "preliminary design phase, in which the main and auxiliary systems [will be] elaborated in detail" began in September 2022.[11]

As of August 2022, Turkey planned to start construction of the first submarine in 2025. MILDEN is a diesel-electric submarine of approximately 2,700 tonnes displacement, and somewhat over 80 metres (260 ft) in length.[11]

On 5 July 2018, Pakistani military's ISPR announced that a Turkish firm has won the tender to build four MILGEM corvettes for the Pakistan Navy. Turkish defence minister, Nurettin Canikli, described the deal as “the largest defense export of Turkey in one agreement.”[14]

By September 2018, some details have emerged that corvettes for Pakistan Navy will have CODAD propulsion system instead of CODAG, thus increasing the sea endurance from 10 to 15 days. Further, the first vessel is planned to be constructed in 54 months and the remaining vessels will be constructed in 60, 66 and 72 months, respectively.[15]

The Babur-class corvettes will be one of the most technologically advanced surface platforms of the Pakistan Navy fleet. Keel Laying ceremony of third PN MILGEM-class warship was held. The warship will complete in 2024.[16][17]

Coinciding with the commissioning ceremony of TCG Kınalıada attended by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, steel cutting ceremony for the first MILGEM ship for the Pakistan Navy was also held there on 29 September 2019.[18] The first Pakistani vessel named PNS Babur was launched on 15 August 2021.[19] On 8 November 2021, Pakistan held keel-laying ceremony for fourth and final MILGEM corvette for the Pakistan Navy.[20]

In December 2020, the Ukrainian Navy signed a deal with Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries for the production of Ada-class corvettes in the Okean shipyard at Mykolaiv, Ukraine.[21] In August 2022, the name of the first ship was announced as Hetman Ivan Mazepa after Hetman Ivan Mazepa.[22]