MILGEM or Ada-class "Heybeliada" corvette. Turkish gorvernment picture.
Ukraine Orders Corvettes And UCAVs From Turkey For Ukrainian Navy
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has ordered new Turkish-made corvettes and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) from Turkey. They are being procured for the Ukrainian Navy to enhance security in the Black and Azov Sea regions.
Xavier Vavasseur 16 Dec 2020
According to the statement issued on 15 December 2020, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Andrii Taran signed the documents during a visit to Ukraine by Ismail Demir, the head of Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB).
These are primarily projects designed to radically strengthen the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Navy to enhance security in the Black and Azov Sea regions.
Ukrainian MOD
The statement did not disclose what systems specifically were ordered. The financial value of the contracts was not provided.
Incidentally, this announcement comes one day after the U.S. rolled out sanctions on the SSB over the Turkish purchase of the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system.
To help improve the capabilities of its naval forces, Ukraine has sought to purchase corvettes from Turkey’s MILGEM project. Ukraine has worked to rebuild its Navy amid tension with rival Russia in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
Four corvettes of this type have already been exported by Turkey to Pakistan.
About MILGEM project / Ada-class corvettes
The Ada-class, as part of the MILGEM project, represents the first national ship building project staged in Turkey. Its goal was to build a modern littoral combat ship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its design.
First ship in class TCG Heybeliada (F-511) was launched in September 2008 and commissioned with the Turkish Navy in September 2011. Fourth and final ship of the class TCG Kınalıada (F-514) was commissioned in September 2019. This final corvette successfully test fired the new ATMACA anti-ship missile in November last year.
The class is designed to embark a 10-ton helicopter with platform, hangar and extensive service and handling equipment. Helicopter operations can be performed at sea state 4. A MILGEM corvette is designed to accommodate 106 sailors including the flight crew. The total accommodation is 108 including sickbay.
Milgem-class are multipurpose corvettes able to conduct a wide a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air warfare.
Ada-class Main specifications:
Displacement: 2400 tonnes
Length: 99m
Beam: 14.4m
Draft: 3.9m
Propulsion: CODAG (Turkey); CODAD (Pakistan)
Speed: 15 to 30 knots
Range: 3500 nautical miles (Turkey)
Crew: 93
Weapon: 1x gun 76 mm OtoMelara; 2x 12,7mm STAMP; 8 × Atmaca; 21 × RAM Block; 2 × 324 mm Mk.32 triple launchers for Mk.46 torpedoes (Turkey)
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