Turkey’s TAIS Shipyards has finalized a $1-billion agreement with Qatar’s defense procurement authority, Barzan Holding, to support the construction of two Istanbul-class frigates for the Indonesian Navy. The agreement was signed during the DIMDEX 2026 maritime defense exhibition in Doha and represents a major milestone for Turkey’s naval export ambitions. While TAIS will lead construction, the arrangement is structured as a multi-party framework involving financing mechanisms, industrial coordination, and shared risk, rather than a traditional buyer–seller shipbuilding contract. This deal builds on a preliminary agreement reached with Indonesia in July and marks the first international sale of the Istanbul-class frigate, developed under Turkey’s MİLGEM national warship program. The acquisition aligns with Indonesia’s broader naval modernization strategy, which seeks to enhance surface combatant capabilities while diversifying foreign partnerships and strengthening domestic industrial participation. The Istanbul-class design is a larger and more capable evolution of the Ada-class corvette, intended to replace Turkey’s aging Yavuz-class frigates. Measuring 113.2 meters in length with a displacement of about 3,150 tons, the frigate is powered by a combined diesel-and-gas propulsion system, enabling speeds above 29 knots and a range of roughly 5,700 nautical miles. The ships are equipped with a suite of Turkish-developed systems, including the ATMACA anti-ship missile, MİDLAS vertical launch system, Gökdeniz CIWS, CENK-S AESA radar, and the ADVENT combat management system. Designed for surveillance, patrol, and deterrence missions, the frigates will significantly expand Indonesia’s maritime operational reach.
