10 December 2021
Turkish intelligence-gathering ship enters service
by Cem Devrim Yaylali
TCG Ufuk , the Turkish Navy's first dedicated intelligence gathering ship, pictured at sea on 1 December. (Cem Devrim Yaylalı)
The Turkish Navy's first dedicated intelligence-gathering ship has entered service.
According to Janes sources, TCG Ufuk (A 591) was quietly commissioned in November, although there was no official announcement of ceremony at the time.
The new ship was designed by STM and built at Istanbul Shipyard under a contract awarded in 2017. It was laid down in 2018 and launched in February 2019.
Ufuk is based on the proven MilGem (Ada-class) corvette design and has similar hull dimensions, with an overall length of 99 m, a beam of 14.1 m, and a draft of 3.6 m. It has a full load displacement of 2,400 tonnes and a top speed of 18 kt.
Unlike the Ada-class corvettes, Ufuk is only armed with small-calibre machine guns for self-protection. It has a flight deck that can support 10-tonne class helicopters, but no hangar on board.
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The Turkish Navy's first dedicated intelligence-gathering ship has entered service.
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