MİLGEM Deliveries & Inventory: How Many Ships Built, and Which Navies? (2026)

MİLGEM is a national ship program launched to meet the Turkish Navy’s needs through indigenous design and production. It began with Ada-class corvettes for patrol and anti-submarine roles, then grew with Istif-class frigates offering air defense and a wider mission set.

The ships’ combat management system (GENESIS), sensors and weapon integration are largely supplied by domestic firms such as ASELSAN, HAVELSAN and ROKETSAN, making MİLGEM the umbrella program where Turkish shipbuilding and naval-systems industry matured.

MİLGEM ships serve with the Turkish Navy and export customers. The table summarises classes, numbers and status per open sources.

MİLGEM has also been offered to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, underlining its international competitiveness.

The first ship, the Ada-class corvette TCG Heybeliada (F-511), entered Turkish Navy service on 27 September 2011 — a milestone as Türkiye fielded a warship of its own design.

Heybeliada was followed by TCG Büyükada, Burgazada and Kınalıada; the four-corvette Ada class was completed in 2019. Attention then shifted to the larger, more heavily armed Istif-class frigates.

Four Ada-class corvettes were completed for the Turkish Navy; the first of eight Istif-class frigates, TCG İstanbul, was commissioned in January 2024, with the rest in delivery. For export, contracts for eight ships were signed with Pakistan and Ukraine.

Pakistan has so far received two ships (PNS Babur and PNS Khaibar); the other two are being built in Karachi with Turkish support — showing MİLGEM exports production technology, not just product.

MİLGEM is one of Türkiye’s biggest naval export successes. Under the 2018 deal with Pakistan, half the ships are built in Istanbul and half at Karachi Shipyard with Turkish support, including technology transfer.

Ada-class corvettes compete with Germany’s Braunschweig (K130) class, Sweden’s Visby class and the Franco-Italian Gowind class. MİLGEM’s edge is full integration with an indigenous combat system and national weapons such as ATMACA.

The Istif-class frigates add regional air defense through vertical launch systems and HİSAR missiles. This step-by-step growth lets Türkiye build an integrated family from corvette to frigate to the TF-2000 air-defense destroyer.

• Ada-class corvette — patrol and ASW (4 ships, Turkish Navy)
• Istif (Istanbul)-class frigate — multi-role with air defense (8 planned)
• Babur/Jinnah class — enlarged corvette for Pakistan (4 ships)
• TF-2000 air-defense destroyer — the next step built on MİLGEM experience

MİLGEM was developed under the Turkish Navy’s design office, with STM as prime contractor for export and serial production. Ships are built at Istanbul Shipyard and private yards.

The combat management system (GENESIS/ADVENT) comes from HAVELSAN and ASELSAN, and weapons from ROKETSAN and ASELSAN. This broad domestic supply chain gives MİLGEM its ‘national ship’ identity.

MİLGEM turned Türkiye from a warship importer into a country that designs and exports warships. The Pakistan and Ukraine deals prove this transformation has international acceptance.

Under the ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine, the program gives the Turkish Navy a modern indigenous fleet while sustaining a broad ecosystem across shipbuilding, combat systems and missiles.

Four Ada-class corvettes were completed for the Turkish Navy (2011–2019) and eight Istif-class frigates are being delivered. For export, Pakistan ordered 4 and Ukraine 4; Pakistan has received 2 (PNS Babur, PNS Khaibar).

Beyond Türkiye, Pakistan (Babur/Jinnah class) and Ukraine (ordered) operate them; offers/deals with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are also on the agenda.

The first ship, the Ada-class corvette TCG Heybeliada (F-511), entered Turkish Navy service on 27 September 2011.

Pakistan ordered 4 in 2018 — two built in Istanbul, two in Karachi. PNS Babur was delivered in 2022 and PNS Khaibar in 2025.

The Istif (Istanbul) class is the larger frigate version of MILGEM. Eight are planned for the Turkish Navy; the first, TCG İstanbul (F-515), was commissioned in January 2024.

A 76 mm gun, up to 8 ATMACA anti-ship missiles, air-defense missiles (HİSAR on Istif), 324 mm torpedoes and a helicopter, managed by the ASELSAN/HAVELSAN GENESIS combat system.