In fact, the beginning of this story dates back to the early 1990s. In those days, first of all, while the design and construction of an indigenous patrol ship was set out, feasibility studies were also started for an Anti Air Warfare (AAW) Frigate for the Turkish Naval Fleet. While the Patrol ship project was named as MİLGEM (abbreviation for the Turkish phrase MİLli GEMi which means National Ship) , the AAW Frigate project was named TF-2000 (Turkish Frigate 2000) by targeting the 2000s as well.
MİLGEM program has been started on 2004 by Turkish Naval Forces Command (TNFC) by establishing the Design Project Office (DPO) (former MILGEM Project Office) as a department of Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY). At the very beginning, the plan was to build totally 12 ships as corvettes, but in accordance with the new requirements of TNFC, the program changed to 4+4 ships, (first four ships as corvettes and following four as frigates). Untill today, four ships have been built and commissioned as ADA Class Corvettes (named by TNFC), following four have been named as Istif Class Frigate and the first ship TCG ISTANBUL, built by INSY, is planning to be commissioned till the end of this year. The tender for the following three has been completed and a Turkish private company has been awarded for the building of the frigates. The plan of the company is to deliver the ships in 36 months.
If we come back to our main subject;
After completion of the design phases of MILGEM and Istif Class ships successfully, in order to maintain this war ship design and construction capability and also to meet the mainland’s air defense from the sea and to meet the need for a platform with superior air defense and offensive capability, the design activities of the TF-2000 Air Defense Warfare Destroyer (HSHM) Project started in July 2017 at the Design Project Office as per the directive of the TNFC.
Why TF-2000 will be the game changer for Turkish Navy? Let's review the basic features and characteristics of the ship.
- TF-2000 will have the basic mission function capability to detect and destroy low/medium/high altitude short/medium/long range guided missiles before they approach the mainland,
- Able to establish a Recognized Air Picture (RAP) in order to perform the air defense of the fleet,
- Able to operate effectively in all seas of the world,
- Able to defend a geographical area against all kinds of threats, capable of long-range Anti-Air Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Surface Warfare as a part of a Task Group/ Task Force,
- Able to perform offshore engagement,
At the beginning, 4 units were planned to be built as a frigate with a displacement of 6000 tons and a length of 147 meters. The TF-2000 Air Defense Warfare ship, designed by the Design Project Office (DPO) of the Naval Forces Command, was originally planned to have 32 vertical launch systems (VLS). According to the scope of the design that made these stays, the ship was in the “frigate” class in terms of length and displacement. That's why the project was called “TF-2000 Air Defense Warfare Frigate”. However, with a decision of TNFC, the number of VLSs on the ship was increased from 32 to 64. And so the length of the ship was extended and 32 more VLS lists for the fore-mid section.
As a result, the length of the ship is now 166 meters and the displacement is about 8500 tons. After this change TNFC named the ship as “TF-2000 Air Defense Destroyer (Destroyer)” due to the length and displacement.
Unmanned Air Vehicles
The GENESIS ADVENT Combat Management System within TF-2000 HSHM will provide fast and effective reaction and decision support in a dynamic and variable air defense warfare environment with its advanced threat assessment, engagement planning and execution algorithms, as well as task force-wide sensor/decision support with its integrated Network Supported Capability function. Thanks to weapon sharing, resource optimization will be achieved and force protection will be maximized.
As mentioned above, this excellent warship has been designed by TNFC DPO and for the ongoing process, it is known from the declarations of Presidency of Defence Industries that the detailed design will be done by TNFC and a Turkish company ASFAT. (1)
The first ship is planning to be commissioned on 2027.
References
(1) https://www.savunmasanayist.com/resmi-aciklamarla-tf-2000-hava-savunma-muhriplerinde/
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