The TCG Ufuk, a test and training ship that holds the distinction of being Türkiye's first domestically produced intelligence vessel, entered service today at a ceremony held at the Istanbul Maritime Shipyard.
Turkey continues its national military ship development journey, which began with the MİLGEM project, by adding new ships every day. The Test and Training Ship TCG Ufuk A-591, which has the distinction of being Türkiye's first national intelligence ship produced with its own resources, entered service with the Turkish Navy today in a ceremony held at the Istanbul Maritime Shipyard with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The national intelligence ship TCG Ufuk A-591, first launched in 2019, was built using the MİLGEM hull design. With a length of 99.5 meters, a maximum beam of 14.4 meters, a displacement of 2,400 tons, and a draft of 3.6 meters, the TCG Ufuk Corvette can accommodate a 10-ton helicopter.
National Intelligence Ship TCG Ufuk A-591 will be Türkiye's eyes and ears at sea.
The National Intelligence Ship TCG Ufuk (A-591) holds a strategic position as Türkiye's eyes and ears at sea. In today's world, where preventive intelligence, especially Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), has become the most critical element in the battlefield, TCG Ufuk fills a significant gap in this area.
MİLGEM Hull Form and Passive Listening Capability
Built at Istanbul Maritime Shipyard under the main contractor STM, and based on the proven hull design of the MİLGEM Ada Class corvettes, TCG Ufuk has a total length of 99.5 meters, a beam of 14.4 meters, and a displacement of approximately 2,400 tons. The ship's command and control, electronic support (ED), and test-training systems equipment were entirely provided by ASELSAN. TCG Ufuk's greatest strategic advantage lies in its advanced ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) and COMINT (Communication Intelligence) antennas. Thanks to these systems, the ship can detect, identify, and analyze the communication networks and radar frequencies of target elements from hundreds of kilometers away without emitting active radar waves, i.e., without revealing its own position to the enemy (passively).
45 Days of Uninterrupted Cruise Control and Diesel Propulsion System
Because intelligence ships prioritize "endurance" and "silence" over high speed, TCG Ufuk's main propulsion system utilizes a fully diesel engine instead of the gas turbine found in other MİLGEM ships. Thanks to this special engineering choice, TCG Ufuk reaches a maximum speed of 18+ knots and can sail continuously for 45 days, including in international waters, under severe weather and sea conditions. Equipped with a flight deck capable of accommodating a 10-ton helicopter (such as the S-70 Seahawk), the ship instantly detects and reports to Ankara any asymmetric and conventional threats to our national security that may arise at sea.
