Turkey plans to launch its first Istanbul-class frigate F515 in January 2021.

According to news published on the HABER VAKTI website, January 2, 2021, the construction of the first Istanbul-class frigate F515 continues at the Istanbul Shipyard Command in collaboration with many Turkish companies under the leed of Turkish company STM. The Istanbul-class frigate F515 will be launched on January 17, 2021.
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The new Istanbul-class frigate F515 for the Turkish Navy. (Picture source Naval Analyses)

The Istanbul-class is a new generation of frigates developed under the MILGEM Turkish warship program as the I-class frigate. As of 2018, the MILGEM project covers four Ada class anti-submarine warfare corvettes and one ELINT corvette, four Istanbul class multipurpose frigates and TF2000 class anti-air warfare destroyers destined for the Turkish Navy, four Jinnah-class frigates for the Pakistan Navy.

The first Istanbul-class frigate F515 was laid down on 19 January 2017. Turkey has ordered four Istanbul-class frigates named TCG İstanbul F-515, TCG Izmir F-516, TCG İçel F-517, and TCG İzmit F-518.

The Istanbul-class frigate, also referred to as TF100 and TF2000, has been designed to perform Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) missions carrying ESSM missiles as well as Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW). The ship has a length of 113.2 m, a beam of 14.40 m, a drfat of 4.05 m and a displacement of 3,000 tones.

The Istanbul-class frigate is powered by a CODAG (Combined Diesel and Das) type main propulsion system including 1 gas turbine and 2 diesel engines. The ship can reach a top speed of 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph) with a maximum cruising range of 6,570 nmi (12,170 km; 7,560 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph). She will have a crew of 125 sailors.

The Istanbul-class frigate has an operational capability of 15 days without replenishment. The ship has a hangar and a landing deck to carry S-70B Seahawk ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) helicopter and Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)/

The Istanbul-class frigate is armed with one 76 mm (3 in) Oto Melara Super Rapid naval gun, two 25 mm (0.98 in) Aselsan STOP remotely operated weapon stations, one CIWS (Close-In Weapon Station), 16 Mk 41 VLS (Vertical Launching System) able to launch Harpoon or Atmaca anti-ship missiles, 16Mk.41 VLS for ESSM designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles and two 324 mm (13 in) Double Torpedo launchers.