MILGEM project

TCG Heybeliada in the Mediterranean Sea
Class overview
Name:	Ada class
Builders:	Istanbul Naval Shipyard
Operators:	Turkish Navy
Subclasses:	TF-100 class
Built:	2005–present
In service:	2011–present
Building:	2
Planned:	12
Completed:	3
Active:	2
Laid up:	3
General characteristics
Type:	Patrol and anti-submarine warfare Corvette (Ada class) Frigate (TF-100 class) Frigate (TF-2000 class)
Displacement:	2,400 tonnes for Ada class 3,000 tonnes for İ class
Length:	99.56 m (326 ft 8 in) for Ada class 113.2 m (371 ft 5 in) for İ class
Beam:	14.40 m (47 ft 3 in) for Ada class 14.40 m (47 ft 3 in) for İ class
Draft:	3.90 m (12 ft 10 in) for Ada class 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) for İ class
Installed power:	Main: 31,640 kW (42,430 hp) RENK CODAG Aux: 4 x 588 kW (789 hp)
Propulsion:	1 gas turbine, 2 diesels, 2 shafts
Speed:	Economy: 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) Maximum: 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range:	3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Endurance:	21 days with logistic support 10 days autonomous
Boats & landing craft carried:	2 x RHIB
Complement:	93 including aviation officers, with accommodation for up to 106 for Ada Class Corvets and 125 for İ Class Frigates
Sensors and processing systems:	Combat Management System: G-MSYS (GENESIS MİLGEM Savaş Yönetim Sistemi) Search radar: SMART-S Mk2 Weapon control: STING EO Mk2 Sonar: TBT-01 Yakamoz Communication: SatCom, GPS, LAN, ECDIS/WECDIS, Link 11/16 Navigation: ECPINS-W, ALPER LPI IPMS: UniMACS 3000 Others: X-Band radar, Fire Control Radar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	SIGINT: ARES-2N Others: Laser/RF systems, ASW jammers, DG, SSTD
Armament:	Guns: 1 × 76 mm (3 in) OtoMelara Super Rapid (retractable for lower radar cross section, guidance by fire control radar and electro-optical systems), A position 2 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Aselsan STAMP Stabilized Machine Gun Platform (guidance by Laser/IR/TV and electro-optical systems, automatic and manual modes), B position Anti-surface missiles: 8 × Harpoon Anti-aircraft missiles: 21 × RAM (PDMS) Mk.41 VLS for ESSM (TF-100 class) Torpedoes: 2 × 324 mm (13 in) Mk.32 triple launchers for Mk.46 torpedoes Torpedo Defence System: Sea Sentor Surface Ship Torpedo Defense System
Aircraft carried:	Hangar and platform for: S-70B Seahawk ASW helicopters Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)
Aviation facilities:	Capability of storing armaments, 20 tons of JP-5 aircraft fuel, aerial refueling (HIRF) and maintenance systems

The MİLGEM project, from the Turkish words Milli Gemi (National Ship), is a Turkish national warship program, the purpose of which was to build a modern littoral combat warship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its design. Three MILGEM-class corvettes have already been commissioned by the Turkish Navy and more are scheduled to enter into service in due course.

The corvettes of the MİLGEM project are named the Ada class (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.

The project covers the construction of four corvettes (Ada class), eight frigates which four (TF-100 class) and four (TF-2000 class) for the Turkish Navy, with possible exports to other countries. The first three ships of the class, TCG Heybeliada, TCG Büyükada and TCG Buruguzada were built by the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command. The cost of the lead ship Heybeliada was around US$260 million.

In September 2013, then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the MİLGEM project 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 cancelled. This was reportedly because the other shipbuilders complained about the bidding process. He added that a new bidding process will take place.