Turkey Launches F-513 TCG Burgazada
Turkish Navy’s third Milgem class corvette, the F-513 TCG Burgazada, created as part of the MILGEM project, was launched with a ceremony attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.
TCG Burgazada is the third ship of the series built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command as part of the MILGEM project that was launched in order to build modern warships upon the 2004 decision of the Defense Industry Executive Committee.
The construction of the Burgazada Corvette began on 17 December 2014, at Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command. The 29 blocks of the corvette were built in 18 months and assembled on the slipway.
The ship was launched upon its completion 3 months prior to the estimated date on the contracts. After its launch, outfitting operations are to be continued before testing and initial entry into service. Hence, the ship is estimated to be delivered two months prior to the contracted date of December 2018.
The Burgazada Corvette is able to undertake surface battles, underwater battles; active air defense, reconnaissance and surveillance, command and control, active asymmetrical defense operations.
Turkey is planning to build an overall of 12 multi-purpose Milgem corvettes in order to enhance its littoral warfare capabilities and to bridge the gap in the operational requirements of Turkish Navy by introducing a platform which lies between the spectrum of frigate and patrol boat.
During the launching ceremony the Commander of Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu said that the planned construction time for TCG Kınalıada will be 8 months shorter.
He also noted that the second batch of four ships will be constructed in İ class configuration. The construction of the fifth ship, named TCG İstanbul, will start in Januray 2017. These ships are scheduled to be commissioned between 2021 and 2024.
