Ada-class corvette

The Ada class is a class of anti-submarine corvettes developed primarily for the Turkish Navy during the first stage of the MILGEM project. The Turkish Navy has commissioned all four Ada-class corvettes.

TCG Heybeliada (F-511)
Class overview
Name: Ada class
Builders: Istanbul Naval Shipyard
Operators:
Built: 2005–2019
In service: 2011–present
Planned: 12
Completed: 4
Active: 4
General characteristics
Type: Patrol and anti-submarine warfare corvette
Displacement: 2,400 tonnes
Length: 99.56 m (326 ft 8 in)
Beam: 14.40 m (47 ft 3 in)
Draft: 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in)
Installed power:
  • Main: 31,640 kW (42,430 hp) RENK CODAG
  • Aux: 4 x 588 kW (789 hp)
Propulsion: 1 gas turbine, 2 diesels, 2 shafts
Speed:
  • Economy: 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
  • Maximum: 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range: 3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Endurance:
  • 21 days with logistic support
  • 10 days autonomous
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 2 x RHIB
Complement: 93 including aviation officers, with accommodation up to 106
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Combat Management System: G-MSYS (GENESIS MİLGEM Savaş Yönetim Sistemi)
  • Search radar: SMART-S Mk2[1]
  • Weapon control: STING EO Mk2
  • Sonar: TBT-01 Yakamoz
  • Communication: SatCom, GPS, LAN, ECDIS/WECDIS, Link 11/16
  • Navigation: ECPINS-W, ALPER LPI
  • IPMS: UniMACS 3000
  • Others: X-Band radar, Fire Control Radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • SIGINT: ARES-2N[2]
  • Others: Laser/RF systems, ASW jammers, DG, SSTD
Armament:
Aircraft carried:
Aviation facilities: Capability of storing armaments, 20 tons of JP-5 aircraft fuel, aerial refueling (HIRF) and maintenance systems

Development

The design objective of the Ada class was to build a modern littoral combat ship, with national anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, while extensively using the principles of low observable technology in its design.[3]

According to the Ada class acquisition model, Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) signed R&D contracts for two prototype ships considered to be testing platforms. Thus, being an open-end project, first and second ships of the class were expected to be slightly different in terms of vessel design and system configuration. The subsequent vessels, scheduled to be built by private shipyards, would have a more optimized design and configuration.[4]

All four ships of the series, TCG Heybeliada, TCG Büyükada, TCG Burgazada and TCG Kınalıada were built by the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command. The construction works of the lead ship, TCG Heybeliada commenced on 26 July 2005. TCG Heybeliada was launched with a ceremony attended by Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 27 September 2008. On 2 November 2010, Heybeliada initiated sea acceptance trials in the Sea of Marmara.[5][6] Heybeliada entered navy service on 27 September 2011.[7] Cost of the TCG Heybeliada was reported around US$260 million.[8]

The production of the second ship of the class, TCG Büyükada, commenced on 27 September 2008. Büyükada was expected to incorporate weapon systems with notable performance, such as the ASELSAN air-search radar. Büyükada was launched on 27 September 2011 and underwent sea acceptance trials before it was officially commissioned on 27 September 2013. In September 2013, then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the Ada-class was to be temporarily put on hold after the completion of the first two corvettes by the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, and that the bid won by RMK Marine to build six more corvettes was canceled. Motives behind this decision was reported other shipbuilders complaining about the bidding process. He added that a new bidding process would take place.[9] Construction of TCG Burgazada commenced on 17 December 2014. The ship was launched in June 2016 and commissioned on 4 November 2018.[10] Turkish Naval Forces Command (TNFC) received its fourth and last Ada-class corvette, TCG Kinaliada (F-514) on 29 September 2019, in the commissioning ceremony held at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard.[11]

On 4 November 2019, the Defense Industries Administration (SSB) of Turkey announced that Turkey's ASW corvette TCG Kinaliada successfully test-fired Atmaca anti-ship cruise missile. Turkish Navy plans to replace the inventory of Harpoon ASM by 2022.[12]

Characteristics

The class vessels are propelled by a RENK CODAG Cross-Connect propulsion plant. It consists of a gas turbine rated at 23,000 kilowatts (31,000 hp) and two diesel engines rated at 4,320 kW (5,790 hp). Each diesel engine drives one controllable pitch propeller via a two-speed main reduction gear. The cross-connect gear splits the power from the gas turbine via both main reduction gears to the two shafts. The ship can be operated in Diesel mode, in single gas turbine mode, or in CODAG mode. CODAG is where diesel and gas turbine engines are providing combined power (27,320 kW).

The design concept and mission profile of the Ada-class corvette bears similarities with the Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the U.S. Navy. The Ada-class corvettes are more heavily armed, and are equipped with more capable radar and sonar systems. The Freedom class has a higher speed and variable mission modules.[13]

GENESIS (Gemi Entegre Savaş İdare Sistemi, i.e., Ship Integrated Combat Management System), a network-centric warfare management system developed by HAVELSAN and initially used in the upgraded G-class frigates of the Turkish Navy, was contracted for the first two corvettes on 23 May 2007.[14][15] In the last Ada-class corvette, Kınalıada, the ADVENT combat management system (an upgraded version of GENESIS) is installed instead of GENESIS system. It is also planned for Burgazada to be retrofited with the ADVENT combat management system.[16] The class ships have a national hull mounted sonar developed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey.[17] The sonar dome has been developed by STM's subcontractor ONUK-BG Defence Systems, extensively employing nano-enhanced Fiber Reinforced Polymer.[18] The Ada class features an Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System (ECPINS), supplied by OSI Geospatial.[19] Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for controlling machinery, auxiliary systems, power generation and distribution was delivered by STM's subcontractor Yaltes JV. Main systems integrated to IPMS are power management system, fire detection system, fire fighting, damage control system, CCTV system and stability control system.[20]

Naming

"Ada" means island in Turkish. Each individual ship of the class is named for a Turkish island, in particular the Prince Islands in the Sea of Marmara to the southeast of Istanbul. The lead ship of the class, TCG Heybeliada, is named after Heybeliada island, where the Turkish Naval High School is located.

Ships in the class
Pennant no. Name Namesake Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
F-511 Heybeliada Heybeliada Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command 26 July 2005 27 September 2008 27 September 2011 Active
F-512 Büyükada Büyükada Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command 27 September 2008 27 September 2011 27 September 2013 Active
F-513 Burgazada Burgazada Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command 17 December 2014 21 June 2016 4 November 2018 Active
F-514 Kınalıada Kinaliada Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command 8 October 2015[21] 3 July 2017 29 September 2019 Active

Export
Pakistan Jinnah class scale model with 16 cell VLS for SAM

On 5 July 2018, Pakistani military's ISPR announced that a Turkish company had won the bid to produce four MILGEM project corvettes for the Pakistan Navy. Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli described the deal as “the largest defense export of Turkey in one contract.”[22] By September 2018, more details revealed that corvettes for Pakistan Navy will have CODAD propulsion system instead of CODAG, thus increasing sea endurance from 10 to 15 days. The first vessel is planned to be constructed in 54 months, and the remaining ships will be constructed in 60, 66, and 72 months, respectively.[23] During IDEAS 2018, Pakistan Navy officials stated that under the agreement, the fourth ship will be entirely designed and constructed in Pakistan, which will become the first Jinnah-class frigate. This encourages the idea that the fourth ship will spur a new line of frigates.[24] Coinciding with the commissioning ceremony of TCG Kınalıada attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the steel cutting ceremony for the lead MILGEM ship of the Pakistan Navy was simultaneously held there on 29 September 2019.[25]

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has ordered an unspesified number of the corvettes and a number of them are expected to be built for the Ukrainian Navy in Ukraine.[26] According to a statement by Ukrainian shipbuilder Okean, it was chosen to build the ships in its shipyard.[27] The deal was signed in December 2020.[28]

Modifications for export to Pakistan

The Pakistani Jinnah class, a modification of the Ada class, is classified as frigate with a displacement of more than 2,800 tons. Originally, Pakistan ordered four ships, of which three would have been regular Ada-class corvettes while the fourth one would have been a modified, and subsequently reclassified, frigate due to changes. It was later decided that all four ships would be built as frigates. The Pakistan Navy version will also be equipped with a new combat system, spearheaded by a 16-cell VLS to support HHQ-16 surface-to-air missiles, with a range of 35–75 km (22–47 mi).[29] The Jinnah class would also be equipped with Turkish made GOKDENIZ CIWS.[30]

See also

References
  1. Turkish Navy purchases Thales sensors, Defense Aerospace, 19 December 2007
  2. ARES-2N (Turkey), Naval Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), electronic support and threat-warning systems, Jane's Radar And Electronic Warfare Systems, 3 February 2011
  3. Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship (MILGEM- Milli Gemi – National Ship) Project, SSM, Turkey
  4. Acquisition of Design Services and Platform Construction and Outfitting Equipment for MILGEM Project Prototype Ship and Second Ship, SSM, Turkey, Retrieved 6 December 2010
  5. (in Turkish) Newsletter about TCG Heybeliada, Turkish Navy, 12 November 2010
  6. First Turkish MILGEM begins sea trials, Richard Scott, IHS Jane's, 22 November 2010
  7. (in Turkish) Newsletter about TCG Heybeliada, Turkish Navy, 27 September 2011
  8. Turkiyenin urettigi ilk savas gemisi Heybeliada seyirde, Umit Kozan, 12 November 2010
  9. "Koç'un aldığı o ihale yenilenecek". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 27 September 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  10. Turkish Navy commissions third Milgem corvette TCG Burgazada, Naval Today, 5 November 2018
  11. Turkish Navy receives fourth and last Milgem corvette, Janes Group UK, 1 October2019
  12. "Turkey Test Fires Atmaca Anti-Ship Missile from MILGEM Corvette". Quwa. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  13. Milgem Class Multimission Corvettes, Turkey, Naval Technology, Retrieved 6 December 2010
  14. MILGEM Project, GENESIS Combat Management System Archived 24 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Havelsan, Retrieved 6 December 2010
  15. Havelsan advances MILGEM integration, Jane's IDEX 2011 exhibition news, Retrieved 25 February 2011
  16. "ADVENT COMBAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM". Defence Turkey.
  17. Indigenous Sonar Wet-End System Production and Integration Project, SSM, Turkey
  18. MİLGEM Corvette Sonar Dome Archived 17 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Onuk-BG Defence Systems, Turkey
  19. OSI Geospatial Selected by the Turkish Navy to Provide W-ECPINS for the MILGEM Corvette New Build Program Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, OSI Geospatial News Release, 4 June 2009
  20. YALTES MILGEM IPMS Project, Yaltes JV, Retrieved 6 December 2010
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "Turkish Firm Wins Tender to Build Four Corvettes for Pakistan Navy". www.defenseworld.net. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  23. "T129 ATAK Helicopters and ADA Class Corvettes Sale to Pakistan". www.defenceturkey.com. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  24. "IDEAS 2018: PAKISTAN NAVY MILGEM CORVETTE". Quwa.org. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  25. "Ship enters navy, Pak-bound ship being built". Anadolu Agency. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  26. "Ukraine Orders Corvettes and UCAVs from Turkey for Ukrainian Navy". navalnews. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  27. "Суднобудівний завод "Океан" обрано для реалізації корветної програмиy". ocean-shipyard. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  28. AA, DAILY SABAH WITH (22 December 2020). "Turkey-made Ukrainian navy corvettes to be built in Okean shipyard". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  29. "First Milgem corvette under construction for Pakistan Navy". www.navyrecognition.com. September 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  30. "Turkish-built corvettes to assist Pakistan's littoral defense, safeguard new commercial frontiers". Daily Sabah. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
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