What is the ARES 35 FPB? Turkey’s serial-production boat
The ARES 35 FPB is a 12.04-meter composite-hulled fast patrol boat, of which Ares Shipyard built a total of 122 for the Turkish Coast Guard Command (Sahil Güvenlik Komutanlığı) and the General Directorate of Security, Turkey’s national police. According to Shephard Media, the program is Turkey’s largest military vessel project by unit count. The boat was designed for countering irregular migration, search and rescue, and counter-smuggling missions.
How did the program take shape?
The company announced the 105-boat order for the Turkish Coast Guard Command in March 2019. In April 2020 it announced that, with 17 boats to be built for the General Directorate of Security, the program had reached 122 units and that preparations for serial production were complete. According to an October 2021 Defense News report, serial production formally began; the yard operated at a delivery capacity of six boats per month, and the program was planned to run for roughly five years. A June 2026 report by Turkish Defense Hub states that the fast patrol boat program has been completed; in the company’s recent statements the program is cited as the predecessor of the ARES 18 SAR project.
Technical specifications
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Length overall | 12.04 m |
| Beam | 3.76 m |
| Draft | 0.80 m |
| Top speed | 35 kn |
| Range | 160 nm (Shephard Media) |
| Propulsion | 2x diesel engine + waterjet |
| Hull | Carbon-reinforced advanced composite |
| Class | IACS |
| Design | Ares Shipyard |
The figures were taken from the official product page and Shephard Media’s program report. The weapons fit and electronics configuration have not been officially detailed.
Why composite and waterjet?
The company states that the carbon-reinforced composite hull reduces weight and makes a 35-knot speed possible on a small platform, while waterjet propulsion, with a draft of 0.80 meters, provides an advantage in shallow waters and near-shore operations. The same hull approach is also used in the yard’s HARPOON interceptor boats and BOLD patrol vessels. The production tempo of the boats, which serve on irregular migration routes in the Aegean and the Mediterranean, also became an indicator of the yard’s serial-production capacity: Defense News described the program as a serial-production effort unmatched in volume in Turkish shipbuilding.
Missions and operators
The official product page lists the boat’s missions as countering irregular migration, search and rescue, combating human smuggling, and maritime security. The main operator is the Turkish Coast Guard Command; the General Directorate of Security’s boats serve in port and coastal security. No record of a signed contract for an export version of the program could be found; the company’s export portfolio is examined in a separate file.
Frequently asked questions
How many ARES 35 FPBs were built?
The program was announced as 122 units: 105 for the Turkish Coast Guard Command and 17 for the General Directorate of Security. The completion date of deliveries is not officially disclosed; independent reports dated June 2026 state that the program has been completed.
What are the boat’s speed and range?
According to the official page, the top speed is 35 knots; Shephard Media reported the range as 160 nautical miles.
Is the ARES 35 FPB armed?
The weapons configuration is not listed on the official product page. Equipment for law enforcement missions is determined by the operating agency’s requirements and is not officially disclosed.
Why is it called 35?
The number in ARES model names indicates the vessel’s approximate length in feet; 35 feet corresponds to roughly 12 meters.
Why does the program matter?
It is Turkey’s largest military vessel program by unit count and was carried out at a serial-production tempo reaching six boats per month at a single yard.
Sources and verification note
Technical figures were taken from the official product page, and program quantities and tempo information from the independent defense press. Accessed: August 13, 2026.
- https://ares.global/vessels/patrol/ares-35-fpb
- https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/ares-build-122-patrol-boats-turkish-coast-guard/
- https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2021/10/13/turkish-shipyard-launches-mass-production-of-fast-patrol-boats-for-coastal-defense/
- https://ares.global/media-center/news/ares-shipyard-wins-order-for-105-coast-guard-boats
- https://ares.global/media-center/news/ares-shipyard-prepares-for-serial-production-of-122-ares-35-fpbs
- https://www.turkishdefensehub.com/ares-shipyard-launches-first-ares-18-sar-boat-for-turkiyes-coastal-safety-authority-599
