Ada-class corvette

The design objective of the Ada class is to build a modern littoral combat ship, with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, while extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its design.[1]

According to the Ada class acquisition model, Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) signed R&D contracts for the two prototype ships, which are considered to be testing platforms. This being an open-end project, the 1st and 2nd ships of the class were expected to be slightly different in terms of vessel design and system configuration. The subsequent vessels, scheduled to be built by private shipyards, would have a more optimized design and configuration.[4].

In September 2013, then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the Ada class was to be temporarily put on hold after the completion of the first two corvettes by the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, and that the bid won by RMK Marine to build six more corvettes was canceled. This was reported because the other shipbuilders complained about the bidding process. He added that a new bidding process would take place.[5]

The first four ships of the class, TCG Heybeliada, TCG Büyükada , TCG Burgazada ,and TCG Kınalıada were built by the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command. The construction works of the first Ada-class corvette Heybeliada began on July 26, 2005. TCG Heybeliada was launched with a ceremony on September 27, 2008, that was attended by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey. On November 2, 2010, Heybeliada started undergoing sea acceptance trials before being officially commissioned.[6][7] Heybeliada entered navy service on September 27, 2011.[8] The cost of the Heybeliada was around US$260 million.[9]

The production of the second ship of the class, TCG Büyükada, commenced on September 27, 2008. Büyükada was expected to incorporate weapon systems with notable performance, such as the ASELSAN air-search radar. Büyükada was launched on September 27, 2011 and underwent sea acceptance trials before it was officially commissioned on September 27, 2013. The construction of TCG Burgazada commenced on December 17, 2014. The ship was launched on June 2016 and commissioned on November 4, 2018.[10] Turkish Naval Forces Command (TNFC) received its fourth and last Ada-class (Milgem) anti-submarine warfare corvette, TCG Kinaliada (F 514) on 29 September 2019, at a commissioning ceremony held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard.[11]

On 04 November 2019, the Turkish Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) announced that the Turkish Navy’s TCG Kinaliada, a MILGEM Ada-class anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette, successfully test-fired an Atmaca anti-ship cruising missile (ASCM). This missile will replace the inventory of Harpoon (ASM) by 2022.[12]

The ships are propelled by a RENK CODAG Cross-Connect propulsion plant. It consists of a gas turbine rated at 23,000 kilowatts (31,000 hp) and two diesel engines rated at 4,320 kW (5,790 hp). Each diesel engine drives one controllable pitch propeller via a two-speed main reduction gear. The cross-connect gear splits the power from the gas turbine via both main reduction gears to the two shafts. The ship can be operated in Diesel mode, in single gas turbine mode, or in CODAG mode. CODAG is where diesel and gas turbine engines are providing combined power (27,320 kW).

The design concept and mission profile of the Ada-class corvette bears similarities with the Freedom-class littoral combat ship developed by Lockheed Martin, as the first member of the next generation of U.S. Navy warships. The Ada-class corvettes are more heavily armed, and are equipped with more capable radar and sonar systems. The Freedom-class has a higher speed and variable mission modules.[13]

GENESIS (Gemi Entegre Savaş İdare Sistemi, i.e., Ship Integrated Combat Management System), a network-centric warfare management system developed by Havelsan and initially used in the upgraded G-class frigates of the Turkish Navy, was contracted for the first two Ada-class corvettes on May 23, 2007.[14][15] The MİLGEM project warships have indigenous hull-mounted sonar developed by the Scientific and Technological Research Foundation of Turkey.[16] The sonar has been developed and produced by STM's subcontractor ONUK-BG Defence Systems, extensively employing nano-enhanced Fiber Reinforced Polymer.[17] The Ada class features an Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System (ECPINS), supplied by OSI Geospatial.[18] Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), delivered by STM's subcontractor Yaltes JV, monitors and controls machinery, auxiliary systems, electrical power generation, and distribution. The main systems integrated in IPMS include a power management system, fire detection system, fire fighting, damage control system, CCTV system and stability control system.[19]

The Ada means island in Turkish, as each individual ship of the class is given the name of a Turkish island, in particular the Prince Islands in the Sea of Marmara to the southeast of Istanbul. The lead ship of the class, TCG Heybeliada, is named after Heybeliada Island, where the Turkish Naval High School is located.

On July 5, 2018, Pakistani military's ISPR announced that a Turkish firm had won the tender to build four MILGEM corvettes for the Pakistan Navy. Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli described the deal as “the largest defense export of Turkey in one agreement.”[21]By September 2018, some details have emerged that corvettes for Pakistan Navy will have CODAD propulsion system instead of CODAG, thus increasing sea endurance from 10 to 15 days. The first vessel is planned to be constructed in 54 months, and the remaining ships will be constructed in 60, 66, and 72 months, respectively.[22] During IDEAS 2018, Pakistan Navy officials stated that under the agreement, the fourth ship will be entirely designed and constructed in Pakistan, which will become the first Jinnah-class frigate. This strengthens the idea that the fourth ship will spur a new line of frigates.[23] Coinciding with the commissioning ceremony of TCG Kınalıada attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the steel cutting ceremony for the first MILGEM ship for the Pakistan Navy was also held there on September 29, 2019.[24]

• Istanbul-class frigate
• TF2000-class frigate
• Sigma-class corvette