On 1 September 2025, Türkiye marked another milestone in its naval modernisation programme with the launch of the fourth I-class frigate, the future TCG İçel (F-518). The ceremony, held at Sefine Shipyard in Yalova, was attended by local officials and representatives of the Turkish defence industry.
Prof. Haluk Görgün, President of the Defence Industry Agency (SSB), highlighted the achievement, emphasising that Türkiye’s defence industry is now capable of constructing multiple warships simultaneously. He described the İçel as “our eighth MİLGEM vessel” and praised the more than 200 institutions and companies that contributed to its development.
The I-class frigates represent an enlarged variant of the Ada-class corvettes, designed under the indigenous MİLGEM programme. The TCG İçel measures 113 metres in length with a displacement of 3,200 tons and features an indigenisation rate of up to 80 percent. The frigate is designed for multi-role operations including reconnaissance, surveillance, anti-submarine and air defence and search and rescue.
Key indigenous systems integrated into the İçel include the ATMACA anti-ship missile, MİDLAS vertical launch system, Gökdeniz close-in weapon system, ADVENT combat management system and the Cenk 3D search radar. These capabilities position the ship to perform in complex multi-threat naval environments.
The TCG İçel is the fourth I-class frigate and the eighth ship of the broader MİLGEM programme. The lead ship of the class, TCG İstanbul (F-515), was commissioned in January 2024. The second and third ships were launched in January 2025, with construction of the İçel and additional vessels following later that year.
The SSB recently awarded a contract to the TAIS–STM partnership for the construction of four more I-class frigates, bringing the total to at least 12 vessels under the programme. STM serves as the main contractor, supported by Türkiye’s largest naval industry ecosystem, with 220 companies and 80 subcontractors contributing to the delivery of more than 150 systems.
The I-class frigates are intended to replace the aging Yavuz-class frigates and expand the Turkish Navy’s operational reach. With around 50 percent greater fuel capacity and endurance compared to the Ada-class corvettes, the I-class provides enhanced blue-water capability for long-range patrols and sustained operations.
The launch of TCG İçel reflects Türkiye’s growing self-reliance in naval shipbuilding and underlines the strategic significance of the MİLGEM programme as a cornerstone of the country’s maritime defence industry.
