Turkey selects RMK Marine for MILGEM contract

The Turkish Ministry of Defence's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) has announced its intention to start contract negotiations with local shipyard RMK Marine for the series production of six follow-on Milli Gemi/National Ship (MILGEM) corvettes.

The Tuzla-based shipbuilder was selected over neighbouring shipyard Dearsan for the industrialisation phase of the MILGEM corvette programme during a meeting of the SSM's executive committee on 3 January.

A keystone in Turkey's efforts to grow its sovereign capability in the design, build, and integration of complex naval vessels, the USD3 billion MILGEM programme calls for the delivery of up to 12 ships intended primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and other patrol tasks. MILGEM has been described by SSM Undersecretary Murad Bayar as Turkey's "highest-priority [naval] programme" and, given the requirement to deliver an advanced ASW patrol ship with maximum indigenous content, represents the most ambitious component of Turkey's drive to achieve self-sufficiency in its maritime industrial sector.

Construction and delivery of the first two ships in the programme was undertaken at the Turkish Naval Forces Command's Istanbul Shipyard in order to capitalise on its prior warship-building experience, with design and planning services contracted out to industry.