Turkish shipbuilding industry to build 50 ships for Turkish, EU and Asian navies
Source: Anadolu Shipyard. www.anadolushipyard.com
By Forty-one ships are being built in the docks and fitting-out quays of Turkish shipyards. Production will soon increase to 50 combat and auxiliary ships, as well as patrol vessels. Many of these are equipped with Turkish-made equipment and armaments. Turkish ships are also scheduled to be delivered to Portugal, Romania, Ukraine, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Azerbaijan.
Forty-one ships are being built in the docks and fitting-out quays of Turkish shipyards. Production will soon increase to 50 combat and auxiliary ships, as well as patrol vessels. Many of these are equipped with Turkish-made equipment and armaments. Turkish ships are also scheduled to be delivered to Portugal, Romania, Ukraine, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Azerbaijan.
The Turkish government is taking a comprehensive approach to the development of the Turkish Navy – Türk Donanması (Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri). This is the result of adopting the concept of Turkey as a maritime state. Consequently, the Blue Homeland (Mavi Vatan) strategy was adopted. This is a comprehensive concept for developing Turkey as a maritime state with a strong international position, both militarily and economically. This is a concept “expressed by increased Turkish activity in neighboring seas. In line with the assumptions of this strategic vision, Turkey should strive to significantly expand its exclusive economic zones in the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean,” explains Jan Niemiec in the article “Blue Homeland” – A New Doctrine of Turkish Foreign Policy.
This concept has resulted not only in investment programs in fleet development but also in the development of the shipbuilding industry’s potential and its entire value chain, from steel mills to plants producing ship equipment and armaments. This achievement represents not only quantitative growth but also qualitative growth. Thus, the concept, created by Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz of the Turkish Navy, has translated into the economic development of the entire industry and several segments of the domestic industry.
“Turkey has made significant progress in the development of its maritime sector in recent years, becoming one of the world’s leading countries in this field,” proudly reports “Türk Marinews” and He ambitiously notes that “The Turkish defense industry, already proven on land and in the air, is now opening a new chapter at sea. With domestic platforms, Turkey is laying the foundation for its transformation from a regional power to a global maritime force.”
Over the past ten years, expanding the Turkish Navy has become a priority for the Turkish government, and, as a result, the golden egg of the defense industry. A key element of this effort is the MILGEM (National Ship) program. Under this program, Turkey produces frigates and corvettes, as well as submarines and patrol vessels equipped with advanced electronics and weapons systems.
The program also produces patrol boats, which are an important element of Turkey’s expansion into international markets. Turkey intensified these efforts in 2017, when five major shipyards – Sedef, Anadolu, Sefine, Selah, and Istanbul – merged to form the Turkish Associated International Shipyards (TAIS) consortium.
National Aircraft Carrier (MUGEN). Image: Türk Donanması
National Aircraft Carrier
A steel-cutting ceremony marking the beginning of construction of Turkey’s first MUGEM-class aircraft carrier (60,000 tons displacement, 285 meters long, 72 meters wide) was held In January 2026. This represents a significant qualitative leap in the implementation of the “Blue Homeland” Concept. The air defense destroyer TCG Kocatepe is already under construction on the slipway. The Turkish shipbuilding industry already has a ship with a deck for helicopters and drones.
The Turkish Navy (Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri) has received the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship. The ship has a platform for 14 helicopters. It will house four T-129 ATAKs, eight AS532s or CH-47Fs, and two S-70B Seahawks. It is also expected that the landing pad could accommodate 30 to 50 drones. More information about the ship and detailed specifications can be found on GospodarkaMorska.pl.
Construction of the Istif-class frigates is also well underway. Ships 2, 3, 4, and 5 are currently being equipped with technical equipment and armament. Ships 6, 7, and 8 are under construction. The Istif-class frigates are 113.2 meters long and 14.4 meters wide. The ship’s displacement is 3,100 tons. Maximum speed is 29 knots, and economic speed is 14 knots. The frigate’s maximum range at economic speed is 5,700 nautical miles. Rafał Kamiński described the frigate’s tactical and technical specifications on GospodarkaMorska.pl.
Currently, six patrol ships, five new-generation submarines, eight landing ships, national mine-hunting ships, fast attack boats, and Bayraktar-class landing ships are under construction, according to Türk Marinews. It should be noted that, in response to the demands of the new maritime theater, the Turkish Ministry of Defense (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı, SSB) has signed a contract for the production of ULAQ KAMA unmanned surface vessels.
The contract will be implemented by ARES Shipyard and Meteksan. ARES Shipyard is a shipyard operating for 20 years in the Antalia Economic Zone. Meteksan designs and manufactures technologically advanced weapons, from radars and communication systems to unmanned ships. Thanks to its payload, the ULAQ KAMA can be used as an offensive weapon. It is also being designed as an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform.
Submarines from the STM shipyard. Photo: https://www.stm.com.tr
National Submarine Program
Turkish submarines are a hit. Their construction demonstrates not only the advancement of the Turkish shipbuilding industry but also the entire logistics chain. In April, sea trials of the Type 214TN submarine took place. This is the third of six submarines being built at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard under license from the German TKMS.
Significantly, the ship’s bow section (Section 50), with its 533 mm torpedo tubes, was manufactured in Turkey using Turkish steel. Gürdesan Gemi Makinaları Sanayii Ticaret A.Ş. will support the Gölcük shipyard in the construction of the Type 214TN – Reis series of submarines. It is emphasized that these submarines will be built with significant Turkish local content in their own technologies. There is talk of building nuclear-powered submarines.
The MİLDEN project is well underway. The first submarine, designed and built at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard, is scheduled for completion by 2031. The shipyards will support Turkish companies and other shipyards, such as the TAIS Shipyards Group, as well as technology and defense companies: Bay Galata, MilSOFT, STM Defense, AYESAŞ, Kraken, ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, KoçSavunma (Koç Group), and TÜBİTAK.
That’s not all. In May of this year, the Turkish shipbuilding industry unveiled a miniature multi-purpose submarine. The ship was unveiled in Istanbul at the SAHA 2026 international military exhibition. The ship was designed and built by DATUM Submarine Technologies (DATUM Denizaltı Teknolojileri Uygulama ve Mühendislik A.Ş.). The ship was built under the government’s Çok Amaçlı Mini Denizaltı Projesi (ÇAMD) program.
A corvette built in Turkey under contract for the Pakistan Navy. Source: Director General Public Relations, Pakistan Navy
Government Marketing
Turkey’s domestic production is supported by an efficient international marketing system. This translates domestic production into export success. Turkey’s shipbuilding industry is successfully positioning itself in Europe, Africa, and Asian countries. Ships are exported to over 10 countries, including Portugal, Romania, Ukraine, and Pakistan. Among other countries, Turkey is building Auxiliary Oiler Replenishers (AORs) for the Portuguese Navy.
Ada-class corvettes (PNS Babur/PN Milgem) are being built for Pakistan. Turkey is also transferring related technology. These vessels feature powerful anti-aircraft and anti-surface weaponry. The ships utilize Turkish technologies and Western solutions. The ships are 108.8 meters long and have a displacement of 2,900 tons. The crew consists of 93 officers and sailors. See GospodarkaMorska.pl.
For example, the Nigerian Navy will build two patrol vessels in Turkey, and the Ukrainian Navy has purchased Ada-class (MİLGEM) missile corvettes – the Hetman Ivan Mazepa (F211) and the Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky (F212). The Indonesian Navy has contracted for two ships. The $1 billion contract for the production of the ships will be implemented by TAIS Shipyards (owner of Sedef Shipyard and Anadolu Shipyard) and Qatar’s Barzan Holdings, which operates under the auspices of the Qatari Ministry of Defense.
Turkey also produces smaller vessels for export. These are armored, armed, multi-purpose patrol boats for the Southeast Asian country, reports Rojoef Manuel of DefencePost.com. This will be the first delivery of this class of naval platform in the region. Bay Galata and Kraken Marine Industries will provide the delivery. “This agreement contributes to Ankara’s growing foreign sales of military equipment, which have exceeded $10 billion in the air, land, and naval systems segments,” emphasizes the editor of DefencePost.com.
In Turkey and among recipients of their technology, Turkish products are emphasized as an affordable alternative to an industry dominated by European and American suppliers. Additional incentives for purchasing naval weapons include personnel training on high-tech simulators, maintenance services, and potential incentives in the form of technology transfer.
The Turkish administration has recognized the gap in the market and its dynamic development. The sale of ships and unmanned systems is seen as a strong incentive for the shipbuilding industry to continue exporting ships to Europe and Southeast Asia. Hence, a broad range of products meets the needs for ships and patrol vessels, enhancing maritime security. The offer is also tailored to address threats such as piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing.
Turkish-manufactured torpedoes, missile systems, mines, air defense systems, and advanced sonar technologies further distinguish Turkey from its competitors. It is emphasized that Turkey’s shipbuilding industry is keeping pace with the transformation of maritime combat and the needs related to the protection of waters and critical infrastructure.
