Turkey’s TAIS Shipyards has finalized a significant $1-billion agreement with Qatar’s Barzan Holding for the construction of two Istanbul-class frigates intended for the Indonesian Navy. The contract was formalized during the DIMDEX 2026 International Maritime Defense Exhibition in Doha, Qatar, showcasing a key development in defense collaboration between the nations.
This latest deal follows a preliminary agreement signed in July, marking the inaugural export order for the Istanbul-class frigate design. The new agreement encompasses a comprehensive framework that includes risk-sharing, financing arrangements, and industrial coordination, moving beyond a traditional buyer-to-builder contract. This innovative approach indicates a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing both countries’ maritime capabilities.
The acquisition of these frigates is a part of Indonesia’s broader naval modernization initiative, which seeks to bolster its surface combatant capabilities while fostering both domestic and international industrial partnerships. This move aligns with Indonesia’s recent naval developments, including the induction of the first of four Thaon di Revel-class frigates, sourced from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, and the ongoing construction of two domestic frigates based on the Arrowhead 140 design developed by the British firm Babcock.
The Istanbul-class frigate, developed under Turkey’s MİLGEM program, represents an advanced version of the Ada-class corvettes and is designed to replace the aging Yavuz-class frigates currently in service. With a hull measuring 113.2 meters (371 feet) and a beam of 14.4 meters (47 feet), these frigates have a displacement of around 3,150 tons. They utilize a combined diesel and gas propulsion system, allowing them to reach speeds exceeding 29 knots (54 kilometers/33 miles per hour) and providing an operational range of roughly 5,700 nautical miles (10,556 kilometers/6,559 miles) at a cruising speed of 14 knots (26 kilometers/16 miles per hour).
Constructed at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, the frigates are outfitted with state-of-the-art Turkish-developed weapons and sensors. Key features include Roketsan’s ATMACA anti-ship missile, the MİDLAS vertical launch system, ASELSAN’s Gökdeniz close-in weapon system, the CENK-S AESA radar, and HAVELSAN’s ADVENT combat management system. This sophisticated suite of technology positions the Istanbul-class frigates to undertake a variety of missions, such as maritime surveillance, patrol operations, inspection of exclusive economic zones, and detection and deterrence of potential threats, strengthening Turkey’s presence in Southeast Asia’s military maritime landscape.
