STM’s National Fast Attack Craft Takes Shape at Istanbul Shipyard

Türkiye’s indigenous Fast Attack Craft (FAC) programme continues to take shape at Istanbul Shipyard. Developed by STM, the vessel was showcased during the Teknofest Blue Homeland event in August, with the prototype expected to launch by late 2026 or early 2027.

At a Glance

Prime contractor: STM (Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc.)
Construction site: Istanbul Shipyard Command
Primary weapons: Roketsan ATMACA anti-ship missile, MKE 76mm naval gun
Close-in defense: either LEVENT or GÖKSUR system
Combat management: HAVELSAN’s ADVENT system
Crew: roughly 36 personnel thanks to high automation
Timeline: prototype late 2026/early 2027, sea trials in 2028

Background

The hull and superstructure were first publicly captured on August 9, 2026, during the naming and launching ceremony of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s third LMS Batch 2 vessel at Istanbul Shipyard. Photos from the event showed the FAC’s structure well advanced, offering the clearest public look yet at the programme’s physical progress.

Speaking at the Teknofest Blue Homeland event held August 20-23, 2026 at Gölcük Naval Shipyard Command, STM officials confirmed that design work has been completed and prototype production is now underway. The company is targeting a launch for the first vessel by the end of 2026 or early 2027, with sea trials planned to begin in 2028.

The vessel will carry a largely indigenous weapons and sensor suite. Its primary strike capability comes from Roketsan’s ATMACA anti-ship missile paired with an MKE-built 76mm naval gun. For close-in defense, either the LEVENT or GÖKSUR system is under consideration. All sensors and weapons will be integrated through HAVELSAN’s ADVENT combat management system. High levels of automation are expected to let the ship operate with a crew of only about 36, a notable reduction compared to conventional fast attack craft of similar size.

What It Means for Türkiye

The national FAC programme is designed to strengthen the Turkish Navy’s rapid-reaction capability against asymmetric threats in coastal waters. Bringing together fully domestic subsystems — Roketsan’s ATMACA missile and HAVELSAN’s ADVENT combat system among them — illustrates how far Türkiye’s vertical integration and localization in shipbuilding has advanced. The collaboration between STM, Roketsan, MKE, and HAVELSAN also underscores the maturity Turkish industry has gained in complex platform integration. The craft’s low crew requirement and modular weapons architecture are seen as factors that could support future export interest.

FAQ

When will the Fast Attack Craft enter service?
According to STM, the prototype is expected to launch by late 2026 or early 2027, with sea trials beginning in 2028. The exact in-service date depends on trial outcomes.

What weapons will it carry?
Its main armament package includes the Roketsan ATMACA anti-ship missile, an MKE 76mm naval gun, and either the LEVENT or GÖKSUR close-in defense system.

Is the programme fully indigenous?
The majority of its weapons, sensors and combat management systems are developed by Turkish companies, making it a highly domestic platform.

Sources

Naval News, “Turkish Navy’s Future FAC Takes Shape at Istanbul Shipyard”, August 2026
Türkiye Today, “Turkish defense firm STM nears first Fast Attack Craft prototype launch”, August 22, 2026