- Milgem class corvette
-
F-511 TCG Heybeliada, the lead ship of the MİLGEM project, at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command on 15 September 2008.Class overview Name: MİLGEM Builders: Istanbul Naval Shipyard Operators: Turkish Navy Subclasses: Ada class
TF-100 classBuilt: 2007 - present In service: 2011 - present Building: 1 Planned: 12 Completed: 2 Active: 1 General characteristics Class and type: Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare[1] Type: Corvette / Frigate Displacement: 2,300 tonnes Length: 99.56 m Beam: 14.40 m Draft: 3.89 m Installed power: Main: 31,640 kW CODAG
Aux: 4 x 588 kWPropulsion: 1 gas turbine, 2 diesels, 2 shafts Speed: Economy: 15 knots
Maximum: 30 knotsRange: 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km) @ 15 knots Endurance: 21 days with logistic support
10 days autonomousBoats and landing
craft carried:2 Rhib Complement: 93 including aviation officers, with accommodation for up to 106 Sensors and
processing systems:Combat Management System: G-MSYS (GENESIS MİLGEM Savaş Yönetim Sistemi)
Others: X-Band radar, Fire Control Radar
Search radar: SMART-S Mk2[2]
Weapon control: STING EO Mk2
Sonar: TBT-01
Communication: SatCom, GPS, LAN, ECDIS/WECDIS, Link 11/16
Navigation: ECPINS-W, ALPER LPI
IPMS: UniMACS 3000Electronic warfare
and decoys:SIGINT: ARES-2N[3]
Others: Laser/RF systems, ASW jammers, DG, SSTDArmament: Guns:
- 1 x 76 mm (retractable for lower radar cross section, guidance by fire control radar and electro-optical systems), A position
- 2 x 12.7 mm Aselsan STAMP Stabilized Machine Gun Platform (guidance by Laser/IR/TV and electro-optical systems, automatic and manual modes), B position
Anti-surface missiles:
- 8 x Harpoon
Anti-aircraft missiles:
Torpedoes:
- 2 x 324 mm Mk.32 triple launchers for Mk.46 torpedoes
Aircraft carried: Hangar and platform for:
- S-70B Seahawk ASW helicopters
- Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)
Aviation facilities: Capability of storing armaments, 20 tons of JP-5 aircraft fuel, aerial refueling (HIRF) and maintenance systems The MİLGEM project, from the Turkish words Milli Gemi (National Ship), is a Turkish national warship program, the purpose of which is to build a modern littoral combat warship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its design.[1]
The project covers construction of eight corvettes and four frigates for the Turkish Navy, with possible exports to other countries.[4]
Contents
Evolution
When the MİLGEM project was officially launched in 1996, the initial plan was to locally build MEKO A-100 corvettes of Blohm+Voss, a German shipbuilding company which specializes in building high technology warships and submarines.
In the early 2000s, the partnership plan with Blohm+Voss was shelved and the Turkish Navy decided to use its own resources for the design, development and construction of a completely indigenous corvette. The MİLGEM Project Office of the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command executes and coordinates the design, development and construction works of the MİLGEM project since 12 March 2004.
By developing the MİLGEM project, Turkey aims to build a warship using local resources to the maximum extent possible, and improve national military shipbuilding capacity and skills. The objectives of the MILGEM project are to enhance the littoral warfare capabilities and to meet the operational requirements of the Turkish Navy.[4][5]
More than 50 local companies, including the largest defense firms, Aselsan, Havelsan and STM Inc., play significant role in the MİLGEM project, gaining invaluable experience in warship design and construction.[6]
Characteristics
The project is generally described as the subclasses of multi-purpose warships capable of sustaining a sea war in a littoral combat environment.
MİLGEM Project Office (MPO) of the Turkish Navy Research and Development Center Command (ARMERKOM) designed and developed the vessel platform. MİLGEM's design concept covers a multipurpose patrol warship, which can be deployed in a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, target identification, early warning, anti-submarine warfare, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air warfare, and amphibious operations. It features a steel hull and fragmentation resistant composite superstructure. Fore and aft masts and the funnel have been constructed with sea resistant aluminium alloys. The class ships are designed to fully operate at sea state 5 and partially operate at sea state 6. Reduction and management of the ship signatures was taken as the major input during the whole design phase. Many classified precautions were taken in order to reduce hydrodynamic, acoustic, magnetic, IR, radar signatures, and therefore, to achieve the specified level of stealth feature.[4] Collective Protection Zones are designed to ensure the ships ability under NBC conditions. Locally designed degaussing system minimizes the magnetic signature for protection against the magnetic mines.
The design concept and mission profile of the MİLGEM class bears similarities with the Freedom class littoral combat ship developed by Lockheed Martin as the first member of the next generation of USN warships, though the MİLGEM class corvettes are more heavily armed, while the LCS-1 has a higher speed and variable mission modules.[7]
GENESIS, a network-centric combat management system contracted for the two ships on May 23, 2007, was developed by Havelsan.[8][9] The MİLGEM class warships have an indigenous hull mounted sonar developed by the Scientific and Technological Research Foundation of Turkey.[10] The class features a digital chart precise integrated navigation system (ECPINS) supplied by OSI Geospatial.[11] Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), delivered by Yaltes JV, monitors and controls machinery, auxiliary systems, electrical power generation and distribution. The main systems integrated in IPMS include a power management system, fire detection system, fire fighting and damage control system, CCTV system and stability control system.[12]
Development
According to the MILGEM acquisition model, Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) signed R&D contracts mostly for the two prototype ships which are considered to be development platforms for testing the design and integrated systems. Thus, being an open-end project, 1st and 2nd ships of the class are expected to be slightly different in terms of vessel design and system configuration. The subsequent ships, expected to be built by private shipyards, will have more optimised design and configuration.[5]
Eight of the twelve MİLGEM class warships will be classified as the Ada class corvette, while four of them will be equipped with additional weapon systems and will be classified as the TF-100 class frigate.
The TF-100 class[citation needed] will feature a slightly larger hull and will be equipped with the Mk.41 VLS, capable of firing RIM-66 Standard, RIM-162 ESSM and VL ASROC missiles, along with other systems for improved multi-role combat capabilities. The experience and technological know-how gained with the MİLGEM project will play an important role in determining the design characteristics and the development process of the TF-2000 class frigates, as well as the selection of the systems and equipment which will be used on these significantly larger and more capable warships.
Launch
Construction works of the first corvette, TCG Heybeliada (F-511), began on 22 January 2007. TCG Heybeliada was launched with a ceremony on September 27, 2008, that was attended by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey. On November 2, 2010, TCG Heybeliada started undergoing sea acceptance trials before being officially commissioned.[13][14] TCG Heybeliada (F-511) entered navy service on 27 September 2011.[15]
Meanwhile, production of the second MİLGEM class warship, ASELSAN radar (instead of the SMART-S Mk2) and also use the Mk.41 VLS. It will be a prototype for the TF-100 class multi-role frigates.
According to the local newspaper Hurriyet, cost of the TCG Heybeliada is about US$260 million.[16]
Export
According to a CNN Türk news report on September 27, 2008, the navies of Canada, Pakistan, Ukraine and a number of South American countries have expressed interest in acquiring MİLGEM class warships.[17] The Pakistan Navy shows interest in acquiring four MİLGEM class corvettes over a 10-year program, of which three to be manufactured in local shipyards.[citation needed] On the 6th of April 2011, Indonesia and Turkey signed cooperation agreement on defense industry including the construction of two MİLGEM class corvettes for the Indonesian Navy.[18]
Ships in the class
Name/Pennant No. Namesake Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status TCG Heybeliada (F-511) Heybeliada Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command 22 January 2007 27 September 2008 27 September 2011 On active duty with the Turkish Navy Büyükada Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command 27 September 2008 27 September 2011 - Subsystems, weapons systems and equipment integration is in progress Image gallery
-
12 September 2008
-
12 September 2008
-
15 September 2008
-
15 September 2008
Related development
See also
- Freedom class littoral combat ship
- Braunschweig class corvette
- Sigma class corvette
- Steregushchiy class corvette
- Visby class corvette
- Turkish Navy
References and notes
- ^ a b Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship (MILGEM- Milli Gemi – National Ship) Project, SSM, Turkey
- ^ Turkish Navy purchases Thales sensors, Thales Netherlands, 19 December 2007
- ^ ARES-2N (Turkey), Naval Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), electronic support and threat-warning systems, Jane's Radar And Electronic Warfare Systems, 3 February 2011
- ^ a b c "MİLGEM" Project, Turkish Navy
- ^ a b Acquisition of Design Services and Platform Construction and Outfitting Equipment for MILGEM Project Prototype Ship and Second Ship, SSM, Turkey, Retrieved 6 December 2010
- ^ Today's Turkey’s MİLGEM to build military ships for Pakistan, Zaman, 29 November 2008
- ^ MILGEM Project, GENESIS Combat Management System, Havelsan, Retrieved 6 December 2010
- ^ Havelsan advances MILGEM integration, Jane's IDEX 2011 exhibition news, Retrieved 25 February 2011
- ^ Indigenous Sonar Wet-End System Production and Integration Project, SSM, Turkey
- ^ OSI Geospatial Selected by the Turkish Navy to Provide ECPINS-W for the MILGEM Corvette New Build Program, OSI Geospatial News Release, 4 June 2009
- ^ YALTES MILGEM IPMS Project, Yaltes JV, Retrieved 6 December 2010
- ^ (Turkish) Newsletter about TCG Heybeliada, Turkish Navy, 12 November 2010
- ^ First Turkish MILGEM begins sea trials, Richard Scott, IHS Jane's, 22 November 2010
- ^ (Turkish) Newsletter about TCG Heybeliada, Turkish Navy, 27 September 2011
- ^ Turkiyenin urettigi ilk savas gemisi Heybeliada seyirde, Umit Kozan, 12 November 2010
- ^ (Turkish) News video of TCG HEYBELİADA being put to sea, CNN Türk TV, 27 September 2008
- ^ (Turkish) Endonezya liderinden 300 milyar dolarlik davet, Zaman, 6 April 2011
External links
Ship classes of the Turkish Navy Frigates Corvettes Milgem Class · B ClassSubmarines Fast Attack Missile & Torpedo Boats Kılıç Class · Yıldız Class · Rüzgar Class · Doğan Class · Kartal ClassMine Warfare Ships A Class Mine Hunter · E Class Mine Hunter · F Class Mine Sweeper · S Class Mine Sweeper · K Class Mine SweeperMain Landing Ships OsmanGazi Class · SarucaBey Class · Ertuğrul Class LST · LPD ClassLanding Crafts List of major surface ships of the Turkish Navy · List of submarines of the Turkish Navy · List of patrol vessels of the Turkish Navy · List of amphibious warfare vessels of the Turkish Navy · List of mine warfare vessels of the Turkish Navy · List of miscellaneous ships of the Turkish NavyCategories:- Corvette classes
- Ship types
- Ship construction
- Proposed ships
- Corvettes of the Turkish Navy
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
