ARMAMENTS

The Turkish TCG Ufuk Intelligence Vessel (meaning ‘horizon’ in English) officially entered service with the Turkish Naval Forces on Friday, 14/01. This is the country’s first intelligence vessel, which is expected to fill a relevant gap in Turkey’s maritime capabilities. 

Being a test and training ship, TCG Ufuk (A-591) has been developed and built with national resources and capabilities, mentioned President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the delivery ceremony held in Istanbul Naval Shipyard.

He also noted that the vessel would particularly rev up the capabilities of Turkey’s intelligence services and that Turkey is currently placed among the 10 nations in the world that can design, build and carry out maintenance of warships.

The vessel was developed as part of the broader domestic ship design and development project MILGEM (National Ship) – under the scope of which four corvettes were delivered to the Navy and a frigate was launched.

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The first works on the Test and Training Ship project, whose main contractor is the Turkish STM company, commenced in May 2017. After the completion of the construction process in the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, the Test and Training Ship TCG Ufuk (A-591) was launched on February 9, 2019.

With its command control, electronic systems, test and training system equipment to be provided by Turkish defence company Aselsan, the vessel is tailored to be used in signal and electronic intelligence missions as well as for training purposes in accord with the test and training vessel requirements of the Turkish Navy.

TCG Ufuk (A-591), designed using the hull form of MİLGEM Ada Class Corvette, can navigate for 45 days in harsh climatic and marine conditions, including international waters.

The vessel has an overall length of 99.5 meters, maximum beam of 14.4 meters, a displacement of 2,400 tons and 3.6-meter draft. Furthermore, it is equipped, according to the Turk Loydu Foundation, with antennas identical to those in the ÇAFRAD rantar system (AESA-type under development for future TF-2000 air defence missiles) and features a helicopter platform capable of landing and taking off 10-ton class helicopters deck and can reach a maximum speed of 18 knots.

Source: STM.com.tr, Daily Sabah

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