By Cem Akalın

MILGEM- Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship

The design work for the MilGem Project was started in 2004 for the in-country design and construction of anti- Submarine warfare and offshore patrol vessels. Design and configuration management of the project is under the responsibility of Turkish Navy. The Project aims the maximum and efficient use of local capabilities. Operational capabilities of the ship are focused on antisubmarine, surface and anti-air warfare, surveillance and defense against asymmetric threats.

The Prototype Ship TCG Heybeliada( F-511) was successfully launched on 27 September 2008, and the keel up ceremony of the Second Ship “Büyükada” was held on the same day. Accomplished outfitting/integration and test activities, Prototype Ship TCG-Heybeliada has gone into service under the Turkish Navy on 27 September 2011, and Second Ship TCG-Büyükada (F-512) has been launched on the same day. Outfitting/integration and test activities of the Second Ship are ongoing. TCG Büyükada (F-512) is planned to delivery Turkish Navy in 2013.

It is the first time in Turkey that the design, system integration and analysis work, including the integration of the indigenously developed combat management system (Genesis), for a warship of corvette size is conducted domestically. Currently, the local content for the first ship of the MILGEM Project is around % 65. The goal is to increase this percentage level for the second of the class, TCG Büyükada (F-512).


Milgem

MILGEM corvette is a displacement type mono-hull vessel designed to meet specific requirements of the Turkish Navy regarding to speed, sea-keeping and stability. The hull form was developed by the Turkish Navy and optimized by İstanbul Technical University. Turkish Lloyd’s and national/international naval structure and survivability standards are applied for structural design of the hull.

MİLGEM Project enabled domestic production and development of critical ship systems such as hull mounted sonar, gun fire control system, LPI radar, stabilized gun system, degaussing system, IR signature management system and laser warning system.

With a monohull, displacement type form, the MILGEM first ship TCG Heybeliada is 99.5 m in length, 14.4 m in width with a displacement of 2,300 gross tons and a maximum speed of 30 knots. Additionally, the ship has the necessary platform, hanger and support equipment for a 10-ton S-70-B2 Sea Hawk. The Corvette’s main propulsion system comprises of one gas turbine and two diesel engines that provide 32 MW of power and a cruising speed of 30 nautical miles. An Integrated Platform Control and Monitoring System (EPKIS) provides control, command and monitoring of the main drive and propulsion system, the electrical power generation/distribution system and other ship service systems.

In order to perform the operational duties assigned to her, the Heybeliada is equipped with air, above water, underwater and electronic warfare advanced surveillance and tracing systems; guided missile and artillery systems against above water and air targets; a torpedo system against underwater targets; an electronic support and laser warning system with RF/laser guided radar and missile detection system and high- tech communications system. The information compiled from the sensors of the MILGEM CMS, managed from the combat operations center, assigns weapons and transfers the target information to other platforms. In addition, by means of an open system architecture, all types of weapons and sensors can be integrated to the CMS. The ship which can communicate underground by means of sound waves has a stealth class status. Able to detect torpedo attacks, the ship can misguide the communications system of the enemy by signal beams. The Heybeliada has a 3,500 nautical mile range without refueling and can stay at sea for 21 days with and 10 days without logistic support.

MILGEM Project cover the construction of a total of multipurpose 12 corvettes. İstanbul Shipyard Command has undertaken the design, construction and test of these three ships, one of which was already delivered. Following the delivery of these three ships, the construction and test of other ships are aimed to be realized by Turkish private shipyards. 12-ship package is planned to be completed and delivered to Naval Forces until 2028.

TF 2000

For the TF-2000 Project, which consists the acquisition of 4 Anti-Air Warfare Frigates that will provide survivability in the presence of aerial threat and also provide supportto mission functions such as command control and communication, reconnaissance, early warning, surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare, the studies to determine the project model is on-going. With the realization of the project, it is intended to improve the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) capabilities of the Turkish Navy.

At the moment, preliminary studies are conducted and configuration of the platform is being evaluated. This indigenous project necessitates high-level engineering and technology applications and also a long term realization period with novel project management processes. Meanwhile, in-country development of the main sensor, multi-function Phased Array Radar is targeted to be achieved with the aim of maximum local content contribution, in close cooperation with universities, defense industry and national research institutions.

With a similar project management approach implemented in MİLGEM, the entire realization period of the TF-2000 Project also purposes to nurture the in-country technology and engineering applications as well as the nationalization of the critical systems for the national defence industry. The outcome will surely endow high technology platforms conforming to Turkish Navy’s operational needs. Feasibility studies has been completed. After the feasibility study is evaluated, building up a project model will be started.

The New Type Submarine

The project covers the construction of 6 New Type Submarines with air independent propulsion system. The submarines will be constructed at Gölcük Naval Shipyard with the participation of local industry and through the material packages to be supplied from the contractor. Aselsan, Havelsan, Milsoft, STM A.Ş., Koç Bilgi ve Savunma, TÜBİTAK, Meteksan Savunma and IDS will took place in this Project as local contractors.

Request For Proposal was released on December 28, 2006 and revised on July 12, 2007. DCNS (France), HDW/MFI Business Partnership (Germany) and Navantia S.A. (Spain) submitted their proposals as of November 12, 2007. The evaluation of the proposals was finalized and on July 22, 2008, Defence Industry Executive Committe has decided to initiate the contract negotiations first with HDW-MFI Business Partnership. The contract was signed as of July 2, 2009. The contract entered into force on 22 June 2011.

The value of the contract is estimated as 2,5 billion €. The submarines will be built in Gölcük Naval Shipyard where 11 submarines of Type 209, were previously built. The first new air-independent but non-nuclear submarine is expected to be delivered in 2015. It will surely replace the first 4 and oldest Atılay class submarines, which will be on average 39 years old.

This will be the first time that Turkey includes AIP submarines in its inventory. Turkish industrial participation in the project will be worth around 81 percent of the total value of the deal. For the first time Turkey will receive 81 percent of the offset pledge in a Navy Project


HDW U-209 Submarine-Gür Class

HDW will preassemble structural and mechanical parts of the submarine in Germany, or classified elements such as the fuel cells and propulsion system. All electronic and weapon systems, including sensors, communications, and data processing systems, will be of Turkish design and production, Around 20 indigenous systems and sub-systems covering Electronic Support System, X-Band Satcom Satellite Terminal, Link11/22 data transfer software, Ship Data Distribution System, Consoles, Torpedo Countermeasure System and Underwater Telephony System will be produced by local Turkish industry and integrated into the submarines.

Coast Guard Search and Rescue Ships

In scope of the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Vessel Project, that consist the acquisition of 4 Search and Rescue Vessels by RMK Marine - a private Turkish shipyard, the contract with RMK Marine became effective on June 30, 2008 and the construction of the first Vessel has been started on March 3, 2009. Then the ship “TCSG Dost” was successfully launched on 9 July 2010. Currently construction and outfitting activities for the first three ships are in progress.

After TCSG Dost (701), TCSG Güven (702), TCSG Umut (703) and TCSG Yaşam (704) ships will be provided to the service of the Coast Guard Command within the project’s coverage. The construction of the first ship TCSG Dost (701), the Harbour Acceptance Test of the second ship TCSG Güven (702) are in progress. Third Ship “TCSG Umut” was launched on 31 May, 2011, Forth Ship TCSG Yaşam (704) was launched on 12 September, 2012. 2nd-4th ships construction/outfitting activities are ongoing.