15 years after the project has started the first plane of the Meltem project was finally handed over to the Turkish Coast Guard on 23th January 2013. When the Meltem project started, this and this aircraft were not even on drawing boards. Since then they have taken off. The plane TCSG-552 is the first of the three planes acquired for the surveillance missions.... Continue Reading →
My Impressions From The 5.Naval Systems Seminar (Part I)
It is once again that wonderful time of the year when we gather in Ankara and discuss the proceedings of Turkish naval ship building industry. The 5th Naval Systems Seminar has started today. Deputy Undersecretary (Platform Projects) Mr. Serdar Demirel, and Head of Naval Platforms Department Mr. Mustafa Şeker made important presentation where they summarized... Continue Reading →
The First Upgraded MEKO 200 Frigate Of Turkish Navy
Well the DHA story about the naval activity in Gölcük Naval Base was not completely useless. This is the first public photo of the frigate TCG Salihreis with her brand new 3D Smart-S Mk2 radar. The last batch of 4 MEKO 200 frigates were delivered to Turkish Navy with AWS-9 3D radars of British origin.... Continue Reading →
First Photos Of The Interceptor Craft Built For The Qatar Navy
During the Dimdex 2012 maritime defence exhibition in Qatar, it was announced that the Turkish shipyard Yonca Onuk has signed a contract with Qatar Armed Forces. According to the contract Turkish shipyard is building 3 MRTP 16 class interceptors and 3 MRTP 34 class fast patrol boats for the Qatar Naval Forces. This is the... Continue Reading →
Why Turkey Rejected UK’s Global Combat Ship
Well, marketing is not selling. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the contractor BAE paid a high price to learn this elementary lesson in selling. Actually they did a good marketing campaign to gain favor among Turkish decision makers. BAE attended every important defence related exhibition in 2011. During these events the representatives of... Continue Reading →
TCSG Umut On Builders Trials
If I had arrived 10 minutes earlier, I would be able to take a better photo of TCSG Umut from the broadside showing more of the ship; instead I have this photo taken at the large end of my telephoto lens and cropped at %100 size. TCSG Umut is the third ship of the class was... Continue Reading →
Aerial Reconnaissance
This is a photo of F-512 TCG Büyükada the second ship of Milgem Class, taken from an airplane window. She was launched on 27th September 2012. Since then she is being fitted in Istanbul Naval Shipyard. The construction seems to be focused on the forecastle and on the flight deck. There is a scaffolding around the mast. Judging the state of her construction she might be ready... Continue Reading →
BAE Lost The Turkish Bid, Before The Acquisition Process Started
The Turkish daily, Hürriyet Daily News, published an article by Mr. Özgür Ekşi, reporting that the Turkish Defense Ministry sent a letter informing their British counterparts, last month saying that Turkey was “no longer interested” in BAE Systems’ offer. Thus the hopes of BAE to take part in the next big Turkish naval acquisition project TF-2000 are... Continue Reading →
First New LCT Handed Over To The Turkish Navy
Turkish Navy maintains a large fleet of medium sized landing vessels. There are 25 LCT's and 16 LCM's according to Jane's fighting Ships in the inventory of Turkish Navy. The newest of these vessels is more than 20 years old and their top speed is around 8,5 knots. In 2007, Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (UDI), submitted... Continue Reading →
The Sea Trials Of TCSG Dost Continues
According to the official webpage of Turkish General Staff, the sea trials of the coast guard vessel SG-701 TCSG Dost is continuing. She was launched on 9th July 2010. The Turkish General Staff reported that on 7th February 2012 a Turkish Coast Guard AB-412 EP helicopter performed take off and landing tests on board of TCSG Dost at day... Continue Reading →
