A claim to the rulership of the Black Sea?
In the Navy navy Turkey has received yet another, dare I say it, addition to its fleet. On July 27, 2026, Turkey launched its sixth Istanbul-class frigate, the F-520 Karadeniz, at the Sedef shipyard. This is part of the national MILGEM warship construction program.
This launch demonstrates the implementation of the parallel construction concept developed by STM and the TAIS shipyard consortium to speed up ship delivery cycles. It's worth noting that the Turks have effectively achieved rapid construction of warships. There's nothing new here; it's based on the principle of mass shipbuilding implemented in the United States during World War II. It's long been known that properly distributing hull production across multiple shipyards reduces the intervals between launches and ensures parallel outfitting of ships before they enter service.
Turkey, however, didn't invent anything new, but instead adopted what had worked very well. As a result, having literally spit out the Ada series of corvettes (construction of one ship took an average of two years), the Turks moved on to frigates.
It's important to emphasize here that until recently, that is, until the 21s, Turkey wasn't really considered a shipbuilding power. The core of its fleet consisted of German Type 209 diesel-electric submarines, French D'Estienne d'Orves-class corvettes, and American Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates. The boats were new, the ships not so much.
The Turkish Navy has acquired new MEKO 200-class frigates, developed and built by the German company Blohm und Voss.
They entered service as frigates of the Barbaros and Yavuz classes, and were Turkey's first major surface ships that were truly new, built to order.
And then came the time for ships of our own construction, which is not surprising, given Turkey’s ambitions.
And here it is – another frigate. The ship construction program generally envisages three types: Ada-class corvettes, Istanbul-class frigates, and a destroyer, still in the design stage. Defense TF-2000. An interesting point is the initial design for maximum possible unification of ships, which differ (though not greatly) in size and displacement.
The difference between the Turkish frigate and corvette is 14 meters in length and 700 tons in displacement. The difference in offensive armament is also frankly small: 16 anti-ship missiles. missiles versus 8. The number of torpedoes is the same, and, naturally, the frigate has more serious air defense.
Yes, a frigate and a corvette have a lot in common, but to say that a frigate is an elongated Ada corvette is nonsense.
Hell-class corvette
An additional 14 meters of hull length and several hundred tons of displacement provided ample space for a 16-barrel vertical launch system, twice the anti-ship missile load of a corvette, and a more advanced combat information and control system. This also necessitated expanded combat information compartments, larger living and engine rooms, additional fuel, and increased electrical power generation for radars, electronic warfare systems, and cooling systems.
That is, simply sticking 16 missiles instead of 8 is, on the one hand, simple, but on the other, it gives rise to a bunch of alterations, the most interesting of which is a new combat information control system, which will work not with the Harpoons, as on the corvettes, but with Turkish-made missiles.
Naturally, these will be the Atmaca (Hawk) missiles from Roketsan: an all-weather, long-range anti-ship missile developed to replace the current American Harpoon missiles.
Adopted into service in 2021, the Atmaca is theoretically on par with its American counterparts in terms of performance characteristics, but it turned out to be roughly half the cost to produce. However, according to test results, Roketsan's design appears to have performed quite well.
So the unification that was announced certainly does not make these ships similar to each other.
So, Karadeniz.
Displacing 3100 tons, the vessel is 113,2 meters long and equipped with a Midlas 16-cell vertical launch system, as well as Havelsan's Advent combat management system and a Cenk-S active phased array radar. A detailed analysis of the ship's internals is a separate topic altogether, but the products of the Turkish company Aselsan are well-known and need no introduction.
The frigate is powered by a combined diesel-gas turbine (CODAG) propulsion system and has a top speed of over 29 knots, with an endurance of 5700 nautical miles at 14 knots.
The CODAG propulsion system combines a single General Electric LM2500 gas turbine and two diesel engines driving two variable-pitch propellers. The diesel engines provide the ship with the necessary fuel efficiency for extended patrols and routine navigation, while the LM2500 provides the power needed for high-speed interception, maneuvering, and task force redeployment.
This, experts believe, provides the ship with sufficient endurance to conduct operations in the Black and eastern Mediterranean Seas, as well as in the Red and Arabian Seas and the central Atlantic Ocean, although actual deployment time will depend on fuel reserves, sea conditions, maintenance requirements, and the availability of supply ships. Turkish ships in the Atlantic are a laughable prospect for participating in any operations, but in the Middle East, for NATO's benefit—why not?
And it is precisely in missions like these that long range, autonomy, and high speed will be required if the Houthis go crazy again.
The combat system is built on Havelsan's Advent Combat Management System (CMS), which integrates radar, sonar, electronic warfare, communications, navigation, and weapons control data into a single tactical picture used in the operations center.
The primary air surveillance sensor is the Cenk-S active phased array radar, which can track approximately 1000 targets and has a maximum detection range approaching 400 km under favorable radio propagation conditions.
The Akrep fire control radar provides precise target tracking and weapons support, while the Alper low-probability-of-intercept surface target acquisition radar detects ships and small surface targets, reducing the likelihood of the frigate's emissions being detected by enemy electronic warfare systems.
The hull-mounted Fersah sonar provides underwater search capability, but its effectiveness is dependent on water temperature, salinity, ambient noise, and the frigate's own speed.
The Ares-2N system detects, classifies and locates radar sources, while the Hizir system provides torpedo attack warning and countermeasures.
The hangar and landing pad accommodate one S-70B Seahawk anti-submarine helicopter and rotary-wing UAVs, allowing Karadeniz to extend its coverage beyond the capabilities of its sensors.
The 16-cell Midlas VLS can carry one anti-ship missile per cell or four Hisar-D short-range air defense missiles per cell, for a maximum air defense configuration of 64 missiles.
The Hisar-D radar-guided missile is a naval variant of the Hisar-O surface-to-air missile developed for the Turkish ground forces. The naval version of the missile replaces the infrared seeker with a radar-guided one. Its range is approximately 25 km.
It is clear that the operational payload will most likely consist of combinations of anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, taking into account specific mission requirements, i.e. the need to counter aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Of course, the air defense range is frankly insufficient for a frigate. If the missile cells were loaded with anti-aircraft missiles with a range of at least 100 km, it would look much more impressive, but as it is, the ship would be clearly playing defenseless. Furthermore, if there are even four to eight anti-ship missiles on board, the air defense capabilities would be significantly reduced.
Although, it should be noted that all recent battles in the Middle East took place mainly against small, high-speed targets such as UAVs, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles.
The 76mm MKE gun can engage surface ships, air and coastal targets, and two 25mm remote-controlled artillery Aselsan STOP installations will be of assistance if necessary in working on BECs.
The anti-aircraft artillery is represented by the Gökdeniz complex, which uses twin 35 mm cannons and programmable ammunition as a last line of defense against missiles and drones.
In general, the ship's entire artillery power is actually concentrated against various sea and air drones and similar targets.
The frigate's anti-submarine armament consists of two twin-tube 324-mm torpedo launchers capable of firing lightweight Orka torpedoes, which boast a claimed speed of over 45 knots and a range of up to 15 km. This enables the frigate to attack submarines detected by Fersah, its helicopter, or another unit within the task force.
But is it possible to truly rule the seas with such ships? Or at least the Black Sea?
Doubtful. The frigate, as a representative of its class, is frankly weak. It's obvious it was based on a corvette, because if you pit our Gorshkov against the Karadeniz, there's honestly not much to compare it to. The Turkish frigate is inferior in every way except range. The Russian ship is 22 meters longer—and what's the difference in length? The Gorshkov displaces 1400 tons more (which, in short, is almost corvette-sized), and consider all the other features they've crammed into the Russian ship…
Main caliber artillery: 130 mm for the Gorshkov versus 76 mm for the Karadeniz.
Auxiliary artillery: here the Turks are stronger, 2 x 25 mm versus 2 x 14,5 mm on the Russian ship.
Anti-aircraft artillery: 1 x 35 mm on the Karadeniz versus 2 x 2 x 6 (four six-barreled guns) Palash anti-aircraft guns on the Gorshkov.
As for artillery, I'm sure no one will have any questions about "who's cooler."
Anti-aircraft missiles. Here, the Gorshkov is simply incredibly powerful. It has 32 separate cells from the Redut system, which completely outperforms any combination of the Karadeniz: the Redut's 32 cells can be loaded with 32 monstrous 48N6E2 or 9M96E SAMs from the S-300F system, or 128 9M100 SAMs from the Poliment, in any combination. And they can be fired at ranges of 15 to 150 km.
And also 8 (2 x 4) launchers with missile-torpedoes of the anti-submarine complex "Medvedka-2", plus up to 8 anti-submarine "Kalibr-NK" can be loaded into the main cells.
And yes, the Gorshkov's main strike system is 16 3M54 cells, which can be loaded with whatever your heart desires: Kalibr, Kalibr-NK, Onyx, Zircon.
Overall, it's a very uncomfortable feeling to be on board the Karadeniz when meeting the Gorshkov. The Russian ship truly looks much stronger.
However, let's not condemn the Turkish fleet, which these little guys will represent, prematurely. This is the first Turkish pancake that, surprisingly, hasn't turned out all that well.
The industrial significance of the Istanbul project lies not so much in the percentage of domestic production, but in the number of systems whose integration is now controlled by Turkish companies.
The domestic production rate for the Istanbul-class is estimated at 80%, exceeding the initial target of 75%. Over 150 systems were delivered by approximately 80 subcontractors, and approximately 220 companies participated in the program. Turkish companies now supply the combat management system, surveillance and fire control radars, electronic warfare systems, close-in defense systems, anti-ship missiles, vertical launchers, air defense missiles, the main gun, torpedo countermeasures, and helicopter servicing equipment.
For a country that literally 20 years ago was wearing American and French rags, this is more than significant and beautiful.
A national production program allows for modifications to interfaces, core software, and weapons configurations without relying entirely on a foreign combat systems integrator. This also reduces the risk of a frigate becoming unserviceable due to an imported component being unable to be replaced, updated, or exported after the supplier government changes its licensing policy.
Localization does not eliminate external dependencies, as ships of this class still use the American LM2500 gas turbine and foreign-made components in the propulsion system, mechanisms, and electronics, but the dependency is increasingly concentrated in individual subsystems rather than in the overall combat architecture.
For the Turkish Navy, the Istif/Istanbul-class ships fill the gap between the smaller Ada-class corvettes and the future TF-2000 air defense destroyers, also known as the Tepe-class ships.
Turkey's proposed surface force includes eight Istanbul-class frigates, four modernized MEKO 200 TN Track IIB frigates, and eight TF-2000 destroyers.
Istanbul-class frigates can perform escort missions, anti-submarine and anti-ship defense, and provide local air defense, but their 16 vertical launch systems remain a deterrent during prolonged operations against repeated missile strikes and UAV attacks. This means Turkish frigates are unsuitable for operations like those conducted by the Europeans in the Gulf. Such operations require something larger and more heavily armed than a frigate like this.
On July 27, 2026, Turkey launched the sixth Istanbul-class frigate at the Sedef Shipyard, bringing the eight-ship construction program under the national MILGEM warship program closer to completion. The launch came 30 months after the December 2023 contract for the continuation of serial production was signed, and 18 months after the launch of the Akdeniz (F-519) frigate.
This demonstrates the reduction in construction time by distributing the work among several shipyards. Currently, the Istanbul is in operation as part of the program, while the Izmir is undergoing sea trials. The Izmit, Icel, Akdeniz, and Karadeniz have been launched and are at various stages of completion, while the Aegean and Marmara are under construction.
Thus, seven of the eight planned frigates are simultaneously under construction, outfitting, or testing. This production schedule demonstrates that Turkey is now capable of maintaining serial production, with several ships simultaneously undergoing various stages of industrial and naval acceptance.
The first frigate in the series, Istanbul, was commissioned on 19 January 2024, three years after her launch on 23 January 2021, reflecting the lengthy integration and testing cycle required for the first ship of a new class of frigates.
Izmir is undergoing sea trials, while the four subsequent ships are in the post-launch phase, during which propulsion equipment, electrical systems, sensors, weapons, communications, and control systems must be installed, connected, and tested.
Anadolu Shipyard is responsible for the Izmir and subsequent hulls destined for its production line. Sedef Shipyard built the Izmit and Karadeniz, while Sefine Shipyard built the Icel and is involved in subsequent work. Under the STM-TAIS program, Anadolu, Sedef, and Sefine were tasked with building one frigate simultaneously over a 36-month period, replacing the sequential model in which one ship absorbed most of the available design and integration resources before work on the next could begin. Concurrent construction shortens the launch interval, but also requires the three shipyards to maintain consistent construction standards, configuration control, delivery schedules, and quality control for hulls that are nominally identical but may receive different equipment.
And this can definitely bear fruit.
By some estimates, Turkey will be building 10 to 15 large warships for its navy after 2026, ranking seventh after China, which will have 40 to 60 or more ships, the United States, 20 to 30, India and Russia, 15 to 20 each, South Korea, 12 to 18, and Japan, 10 to 15.
If we add ships for foreign customers, Turkey's total workload increases to approximately 20-30 ships, placing it fourth behind China, South Korea, and the United States, and ahead of Italy. This higher position is due to the fact that the naval order book is distributed among several companies and shipyards, rather than a single, exceptionally large foreign contract.
STM, TAIS, ASFAT, Dearsan and their associated shipyards are simultaneously working on projects for frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, landing ships, patrol boats and support vessels for customers such as Pakistan, Ukraine, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Qatar and Romania.
This differs from the business model of some European shipbuilders, whose export workload may be concentrated on one or two classes of vessels produced over a long period. The Turkish model involves building more ships simultaneously and distributing production across multiple shipyards, but this increases the risk of delays, as engineering teams, radar suppliers, missile manufacturers, and combat systems integrators must work with multiple customers simultaneously.
The Istanbul-class project is thus both a domestic navy project and a production load stabilizer, preserving engineering and production capacity that could be used to build export ships and the larger TF-2000, MUGEM aircraft carrier, or Atilay-class nuclear attack submarines.
The plans certainly look very exciting, but let's not forget that just 20-25 years ago, Türkiye couldn't even dream of building its own ships in its own shipyards.
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