Ukraine To Acquire Two MİLGEM ADA Class Corvettes From Turkey
On 14 December, 2020, a delegation led by President of the Defense Industry Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir paid a series of visits to Ukraine, where contracts were signed for the supply of MİLGEM corvettes, which will be manufactured jointly under the Turkey-Ukraine agreement. Although not certain, the number of corvettes to be built is not yet clear, according to an Ocean shipyard official, but four or five are expected to be built. The number of ADA Class Corvettes Turkey exported to Ukraine under the arrangement was also not disclosed.
However, during an appearance on the TV broadcast “Partnership for Peace,” Ukraine’s Consul General in Istanbul, Oleksandr Gaman, stated that they had signed an agreement with Turkey for a total of two ADA Class Corvettes. For the first time, a senior Ukrainian official offered a figure in this statement. “Yes, two corvettes,” Gaman added. “The framework agreement has been signed already. Preliminary work for the start of construction has already begun.”
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky made similar remarks in a speech to the Ukrainian Navy on 4 July, in the Odessa region: “Our Turkish friends are actively supporting the development of the Ukrainian navy. The first foundation of our modern corvettes has already been laid in Turkey and will be completed in Ukraine by the end of 2023.”
The construction of the first corvette in Turkey and the assembly of equipment, armaments, and complete readiness in Ukraine were agreed upon by Turkey and Ukraine. A characteristic of the deal is the progressive transfer of technologies for the construction of ships of this class to the Ukrainian side. All subsequent ADA-class corvettes will be constructed entirely in Ukraine. Corvette construction will take place at the Ocean shipyard in Nikolaev. These vessels will considerably strengthen Ukraine’s defenses in the Azov-Black Sea region in the long run, while also ensuring NATO compatibility. MİLGEM is also Turkey’s first domestic shipbuilding project.
According to STM, the company behind the vessel, the ADA Class Corvette can determine, locate, classify, identify, and destroy air, surface, and underwater targets, as well as providing Naval Gunfire Support. Corvettes can also conduct maritime operations such as maritime surveillance and patrol, coastline and infrastructure protection, and control and monitoring of exclusive economic zones in addition to preventing potential threats.
The TCG Heybeliada (F-511), the first ship of the same class, was launched in September 2008 and began serving with the Turkish Navy in September 2011. The TCG Kınalada (F-514), the class’s fourth and last ship, entered service in September 2019. The ADA class corvette has a length of 99.56 m, a width of 14.4 m and a draft of 3.9 m. With logistical support, the ship can operate for 21 days and 15 days in autonomous conditions. The ship is capable of housing 86 crew members and can seat up to 106 passengers. It can transport two S70 Seahawk helicopters, one in the hangar and the other on the platform.
The ADA class corvette’s weapons loadout is capable and includes:
- 8 Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles
- 1 x 76 mm Oto Melara naval gun
- 1 x 21 missile RAM PDMS
- 2 x 324 mm twin tube torpedo systems
- 2 x 12.7 mm ASELSAN STAMP Remote Controlled Weapon Systems