September 4, 2026: Last month, the Turkish Navy launched the sixth of eight 3,100-ton Istanbul-class frigates. Two more such frigates are being built for the Indonesian Navy. Each ship costs about $500 million and is 113 meters long and 14.4 meters wide. Top speed is 54 kilometers an hour, with a cruise speed of 26 kilometers an hour. Range is 10,600 kilometers at cruise speed, or 19 days at sea. Two Rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) are carried.

The crew of 123 operates an air search radar with a max range of 400 kilometers. The ship also has a surface search radar, fire control radar, and sonar. In addition, other radars and electro-optical devices detect incoming missiles and boats, and the ship can engage them with an auto-cannon similar to the U.S. Phalanx. Communications include satellite links, LANs, and other internal comms, as well as an underwater phone. A combat management system uses encrypted data links to prevent others from listening in. The ship also has electronic warfare systems and decoys for incoming missiles or torpedoes.

Weapons include a 76mm cannon, one 35mm twin Barracuda CIWS (Close-in Weapon System), and two remotely controlled 25mm autocannons. It carries 16 anti-ship missiles and 16 VLS (Vertical Launch System) cells, carrying 16 long-range air defense missiles, 64 shorter-range missiles, or a combination of both. There are four torpedo tubes. There is a hangar for one ten-ton helicopter plus some drones.

Currently, the Turkish Navy consists of a drone carrier that also serves as an amphibious assault ship, 13 submarines, 17 frigates, 9 corvettes, 6 amphibious ships, 11 mine warfare ships, and about a hundred other vessels.

Turkey currently has the world's fifth-largest shipbuilding industry. Turkish yards mainly produce commercial ships. Nearly twenty years ago, when the government decided to expand the fleet, more local shipyards became available to do the work. Now there are 77 shipyards, three of which specialize in military construction, as well as repairing and upgrading existing ships from countries throughout the region. Turkey has done the same thing with military aircraft, with hundreds of combat aircraft, especially F-16s, being repaired or upgraded at Turkish facilities.