Making History! Türkiye Launches New Warship TCG İçel F 518: A Surprising Naval Power

Making History! Türkiye Launches New Warship TCG İçel F 518: A Surprising Naval Power

On September 1, 2025, Turkey launched its eighth domestically produced warship, the TCG İçel (F‑518), marking the latest addition to the MILGEM I-Class Frigate Project. The eighth in the series, the TCG İçel is the fourth I-class (Istif-class) frigate, representing a significant evolution of the Ada-class corvettes.

Specifications & Capabilities.
The TCG İçel (F‑518) is 113 meters long and displaces approximately 3,200 tons. Powered by CODAG (turbo-diesel + gas turbine) engines, the ship is capable of speeds exceeding 29 knots, with a range of 5,700 nautical miles at 14 knots and 4,000 nautical miles at 19 knots.

Designed for multifunctional roles, it includes surveillance, reconnaissance, anti-submarine and air defense, surface warfare, search and rescue, and even amphibious support. Capable of staying at sea for at least two weeks, it features a helicopter deck suitable for a 10-ton helicopter or UAV.

Equipped with a 76mm MKE naval gun, Gökdeniz CIWS, Atmaca anti-ship missiles, and a 16-cell MIDLAS VLS for HISAR air defense missiles, it features a CENK AESA search radar, ALPER LPI surface radar, AKREP fire control radar, FERSAH sonar, plus an EO/IR and electronic warfare suite.

Support Systems: Includes torpedo countermeasures (HIZIR), ESM/ECM systems, and helicopter/UAV support, and a rigid-hulled vessel for raiding missions. With a domestic content level of 70–80%, the TCG İçel is a testament to Turkey's growing self-reliance.

More than 200 Turkish companies, including SMEs, are contributing to the construction at the Sefine, Anadolu, and Sedef shipyards under the TAIS–STM partnership. Construction involved approximately 1,500 tons of steel, 350 km of cable, and over 2 million man-hours.

The TCG İçel represents Turkey's broader naval modernization, which includes the simultaneous construction of more than 30 military vessels across all sectors and the pursuit of future programs such as the TF-2000 air defense destroyer and unmanned naval systems.

Operational Range: Ideal for operations in the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean, strengthening maritime defense and projecting regional power. Indonesia has signed a contract for two I-class frigates, highlighting its export viability.

Developed based on the first I-class ship, the TCG İstanbul (F-515)—commissioned in 2024—and its predecessors the TCG İzmir (F-516) and TCG İzmit (F-517), launched earlier this year.

The launch of the TCG İçel (F‑518) is more than just a milestone in shipbuilding—it embodies Turkey's path toward technological sovereignty, defense independence, and regional naval power. It underscores the success of the MILGEM program in uniting industry, military, and innovation, while laying the groundwork for future maritime leadership.



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