STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş (STM), a defense contractor that operates under the direction of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), has completed the critical design phase for the Preveze-class submarine mid-life modernization project.
Following the successful completion of the sea acceptance trials of the inertial navigation system, CTD probes, chilled water system and static inverters, which are required to be delivered before the completion of the design phases, the critical design phase of the project was also approved by the SSB.
With the approval of this phase, the design phases of the whole project have also been successfully completed, according to the company.
Simultaneously, the platform integration of the MÜREN combat management system has also been completed.
Mid-life modernization project of Preveze-class submarines covers the modernization of four submarines including TCG Preveze (S-353), TCG Sakarya (S-354), TCG 18 Mart (S-355) and TCG Anafartalar (S-356) in the inventory of Naval Forces Command.
In 2019, the firm has contracted Germany’s Hensoldt to deliver SERO 400 periscopes for the Preveze-class vessels. A total of eight SERO 400 periscopes, all of them with thermal imagers as add-on units, were delivered.
Within the project, STM is carrying out the platform integration activities of all products supplied in partnership with Havelsan, Aselsan and Asfat.
As part of its design, construction and modernisation activities, STM is producing indigenous and flexible engineering solutions for the surface and submarine platforms of the Turkish Navy. Undertaking crucial tasks in the submarine modernization and construction projects of the Turkish Navy, STM successfully completed the modernization of two AY-class submarines as the main contractor in 2015.
Aside from its activities as the responsible party for the system supply and platform integration works in the modernization of four Preveze-class submarines, STM is also undertaking critical tasks in the new-type submarine with an air independent propulsion system (Reis-class) project.
Moreover, the company passed a historic milestone in 2021 with the production in Turkey for the first time of the torpedo section that houses the torpedo tubes – becoming one of the few countries in the world able to carry out such works.