Türkiye’s defence ministry detailed progress across major programs, confirming the start of TF-2000 construction, new land and air systems entering service, and upcoming TB3 naval test activities.
Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence provided an extensive update on current projects during its weekly briefing, delivered by Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk. The session outlined new indigenous systems entering the Turkish Armed Forces and highlighted momentum in flagship naval and aviation programmes.
A key announcement was the formal start of construction on the first TF-2000 Air Defence Warfare Destroyer. The initial hull block is now under construction at Turkish MoD Istanbul Naval Shipyard (ITK), marking a significant step in Türkiye’s long-range fleet-defence architecture. The ministry underlined that the ship will be completed “as part of the steel dome” and provide substantial enhancements to maritime air-defence capability.
The briefing also confirmed several new systems entering the inventory. The Land Forces Command completed inspection and acceptance for multiple 17-person rigid-keel boats, all of which have now been delivered. Meanwhile, MKE finalised deliveries of various calibres of weapons and ammunition under ongoing production programmes.
ASFAT reported progress across two major efforts. In the 8×8 T-155 Tactical Wheeled Vehicle–Integrated Panter Howitzer Project, prototype qualification and acceptance activities for the first system were successfully completed, enabling its transfer to the Land Forces. In parallel, the 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate concluded retrofit work on Türkiye’s ninth A400M transport aircraft, which joined Air Force service on 21 November.
In the naval aviation domain, Aktürk detailed the next phase of testing for the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial system, developed under a contract between the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB) and Baykar. The upcoming test programme—scheduled for 1–3 December in Antalya—will include take-off and landing trials, joint operations with the Albatros-S unmanned surface vehicle and guided-munition firing rehearsals. The trials form a critical milestone on the path to shipborne deployment. The TB3 has already entered in the inventory of Turkish Land Forces.
The MoD announced that the Commander of Istanbul Naval Shipyard will lead a delegation to EDEX-2025 exhibition in Egypt from 1–4 December to maintain Türkiye's involvement in international defence exhibitions.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
