Türkiye’s National Fast Attack Craft Seen for First Time at Istanbul Shipyard

Türkiye’s fully indigenous next-generation fast attack craft was seen taking shape in public for the first time on August 9, 2026, during a ceremony at STM’s Istanbul Shipyard. The event’s official purpose was the launch of the third and final LMS Batch-2 corvette built for the Royal Malaysian Navy, but cameras also captured the hull of the National Type Fast Attack Craft (Milli Hücumbot) under construction at the same yard.

At a Glance

The National Fast Attack Craft program was launched by Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and STM in 2020; the first prototype contract was signed on September 9, 2024.
Steel-cutting began on July 8, 2025, at Istanbul Shipyard, and the hull was publicly visible at scale for the first time during the August 9, 2026 Malaysian corvette ceremony.
The vessel measures 68 meters long and 9.3 meters wide, with a displacement of 700 tons, a top speed above 39 knots, and a range of 800 nautical miles.
Propulsion comes from four diesel engines paired with four waterjets; the class will replace the aging Doğan and Rüzgar-class fast attack craft.
The weapons fit includes a 76mm main gun, surface-to-surface guided missiles, a close-in air defense system, and an advanced radar suite, with a planned production run of 10 vessels.

Background

The Turkish Navy currently fields a mixed generation of fast attack craft: 4 Doğan-class, 4 Rüzgar-class, 2 Yıldız-class, plus 3 Kılıç-I and 6 Kılıç-II vessels. Most of these were built at Istanbul’s Taşkızak Shipyard in the 1970s and 1980s and have since received electronic warfare, fire-control, and communications upgrades, but their hulls and propulsion systems have aged considerably. The National Fast Attack Craft program is designed to close that gap with a fully domestic design and build — according to SSB, it will be the first entirely indigenous vessel in this class for the Turkish Navy, ending reliance on foreign designs for this ship type. The fact that the same shipyard launched three corvettes for Malaysia in just four months (May 24, June 7, and August 9, 2026) is being read as a strong signal of STM’s production capacity across both export and domestic programs simultaneously.

What It Means for Türkiye

The National Fast Attack Craft is not simply a platform replacement for the Turkish Navy — it represents the indigenization of coastal and near-sea control capability under the “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) doctrine. At roughly 700 tons and about 10 meters longer than the vessels it replaces, the new class moves beyond pure speed-focused strike missions toward longer endurance at sea and room for broader sensor and weapons integration. STM’s role as prime contractor shows the company has gained design autonomy not only on large programs like the MİLGEM and İstif-class ships but also on small and medium-sized platforms. The parallel timeline with the Malaysian corvette export at the same yard is a concrete indicator that Turkish shipbuilding has reached the capacity to run domestic procurement and export production lines simultaneously. No public launch or delivery date has been confirmed yet for the prototype, but visible construction progress suggests the program remains on the track set out in 2020.

FAQ

When and where was the new fast attack craft first seen?
On August 9, 2026, during the launch ceremony for Malaysia’s third LMS Batch-2 corvette at STM’s Istanbul Shipyard, where its hull was visible under construction at the same facility.

Which vessels will it replace?
It is designed to replace the Turkish Navy’s aging Doğan and Rüzgar-class fast attack craft.

What are its specifications?
68 meters long, 9.3 meters wide, 700 tons displacement, top speed above 39 knots, and 800 nautical miles range, powered by four diesel engines and four waterjets.

How many vessels are planned?
The program envisions a total production run of 10 vessels, with the first currently being built as a prototype.