Turkey Launches the Fourth İstif Class Frigate – TCG İçel

On September 1, 2025, the fourth Istif-class frigate, the future TCG İçel, was launched at the Sefine shipyard in Yalova, Turkey.

Professor Haluk Gorgun, President of the Defense Industry Agency (SSB), announced this.

TCG İçel is the eighth ship in the MILGEM project. It is the fourth frigate of the İstif class. They are characterized by a high level of localization – up to 80% of components are manufactured in Turkey.

The frigate is equipped with ATMACA anti-ship missiles and the MİDLAS vertical launcher system. It also has the GÖKDENİZ anti-aircraft missile system, the ADVENT combat control system, and the CENK 3D radar.

Construction of the ship started on June 15, 2023, at the Sefine shipyard.

The frigate will join the Turkish Navy after the completion of trials, scheduled for early 2026.

The TCG İçel is part of the first batch of four İstif class frigates. All of them have already been launched.

This series includes: TCG İstanbul, which joined the fleet in January 2024, as well as TCG İzmir and TCG İzmit, launched in early 2025.

Currently, seven İstif class frigates are being built at three shipyards – Anadolu, Sedef, and Sefine – at the same time. Among them are TCG İçel and four ships of the second batch: TCG Akdeniz, TCG Karadeniz, TCG Ege, and TCG Marmara.

Construction of the second series began in early 2025. The contract was signed with the TAIS consortium. Completion is expected at the end of 2026.

The İstif class frigates have extensive combat capabilities. They perform anti-submarine, air, and surface defense tasks. In addition, the ships have an extended range.

The MILGEM project is a crucial component of Turkey’s strategy to develop its own technologies. More than 200 companies are involved in it. They include 80 subcontractors supplying over 150 locally produced systems and components.