TAIS Shipyards, responsible for the construction of the next I-class frigates, has laid the first block of the İzmit (F-517) frigate.
The development was shared by TAIS Shipyards on social media platform X. The third I-class frigate (MİLGEM-7) is being built in the Sedef Shipyard. The initial order for the I-class frigates was for four ships. However, this changed in SSİK’s 2024 meeting added four more to the order, raising the number of planned new frigates to eight. İzmir (F-516) and İçel (F-518) are being built in Anadolu Shipyard.
During DSA 2024, İzmir (F-516) frigate was displayed with what appears to be an extended-length MİDLAS vertical launch system. This hints at strike-length MİDLAS that can launch long-range air defence missiles and cruise missiles.
All I-class frigates will use indigenously developed sensor and weapon systems such as CENK-S AESA search radar, MİDLAS vertical launch system, GÖKDENİZ 35 mm CIWS, and HİSAR-D air defence missiles. The first ship, TCG İstanbul (F-515) was planned with some of the weapon systems imported, but the sanctions led the first ship to receive the aforementioned systems. HİSAR-D was successfully test-fired from TCG İstanbul in March 2024.
TAIS is formed by SEDEF, Anadolu and Sefine Shipyards.
