Turkish Navy’s first test and training ship enters service

Turkish Navy’s test and training ship TCG Ufuk (A-591) has been commissioned at Istanbul Naval Shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed.

According to the officials, the ship was commissioned on 14 January. In his official speech, Erdogan noted that “it is possible to properly protect our country surrounded by seas on three sides” and that the ship “ has the most modern equipment that few intelligence agencies in the world have”.

The unit was designed by Turkish company STM which is in charge of the overall program and built at Istanbul Shipyard under a contract signed in 2016. The keel-laying ceremony took place in 2018, while the launching ceremony was hosted in February 2019.

The ship measures 99.5 meters in length, displaces 2,250 tons and resembles Ada-class corvettes in appearance. It has a flight deck capable of supporting 10-ton helicopters but no hangar facilities. According to STM, TCG Ufuk is able to travel continuously for 60 days in severe climate and sea conditions.

“Our country’s first reconnaissance ship, Ufuk, was built via national engineering capabilities,” said Erdogan, adding that Turkiye had made a good start to the year in the defense sector.

 The ship is planned to be used in the testing and training needs as well as signal and electronic intelligence missions of the Turkish Naval Forces, the officials concluded.