Turkey's Anadolu Shipyard has begun conducting sea trials of a new multi-purpose frigate ordered by the Turkish Navy.
The future TCG Izmir is the second of the Istif-class frigates, which belong to the MILGEM family of warships developed by the Turkish Government. Class lead ship TCG Istanbul was delivered to the Turkish Navy in 2024.
Construction of the frigate was undertaken jointly by Anadolu Shipyard and STM Defence.
The 113-metre frigate will be used for anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) as well as secondary roles that include reconnaissance, surveillance, target detection, identification, recognition, and early warning.
As a member of the MILGEM family, the frigate utilises a modified Ada-class ASW corvette hull with greater dimensions to accommodate greater fuel capacity (for extended range), a larger battery of missiles, and a vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles.
More than 80 per cent local content was used in the ship's manufacture, which is in excess of STM's goal of 75 per cent.
The frigate's armament will include a 76mm naval gun, a 35mm close-in weapon system, two 25mm remotely controlled stabilised autocannon, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and torpedoes.
The gun armament, the self-protection decoy countermeasures, and the ASW systems on the Istif-class frigates will be the same as those on the Ada-class corvettes to help streamline local manufacture.