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

Türkiye’s new national fast attack craft, developed by STM for the Turkish Naval Forces, continues to take shape at Istanbul Shipyard. The vessel was visible on the slipway for the first time on August 9, during the naming and launching ceremony for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s third LMS Batch 2 vessel, built at the same yard.

At a Glance

Platform: a 68-meter, 700-ton national fast attack craft.
Construction: steel-cutting ceremony held July 8 in Istanbul; the program remains on schedule.
Weapons: Roketsan ATMACA anti-ship missiles and an MKE 76mm naval gun; close-in defense will use either the LEVENT or GÖKSUR missile system.
Combat management: all sensors and weapons integrated into HAVELSAN’s ADVENT Combat Management System.
Crew: high automation enables operation with just 36 personnel.
Timeline: STM is targeting 2028 for the start of sea trials on the first vessel.

Background

Türkiye is replacing its aging fleet of Yıldız, Kılıç and Doğan-class fast attack craft with a fully indigenous design. STM unveiled the vessel’s design at IDEF 2025 before construction began at Istanbul Shipyard. Despite its compact hull, the craft is built to carry a long-range anti-ship missile like ATMACA, giving it a credible strike capability in both littoral and open-water operations. The ADVENT combat management system consolidates sensor and weapon integration under a single indigenous software architecture, boosting the ship’s command-and-control autonomy.

Regional Impact

The project marks the end of foreign dependency in Türkiye’s fast attack craft segment. Integrating ATMACA onto the new hull further demonstrates the scalability of Roketsan’s missile portfolio across different platform classes, while the choice of HAVELSAN’s ADVENT system shows Türkiye’s indigenous combat-management software extending down to smaller-tonnage vessels. The fact that a foreign navy’s ship and Türkiye’s own national craft are progressing side by side at the same yard underscores how Istanbul Shipyard is now serving both export and domestic-fleet needs simultaneously.

FAQ

What is the craft’s name? The project is currently referred to as the “national fast attack craft”; an official class name has not yet been announced.

How many vessels are planned? Construction is underway on the first ship; no official series-production number has been disclosed.

When will it enter service? STM targets 2028 for sea trials on the first vessel; entry into service would follow completion of testing.