Aselsan completes first Barbaros-class frigate MLU

TCG Orucreis is the first of the Turkish Navy's Barbaros frigates to complete the MLU. (Aselsan)

Aselsan has announced the successful completion of the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the Turkish Navy's Barbaros (MEKO 200 TN II-A/B)-class frigate TCG Oruçreis (F 245).

In a statement issued on 9 April, Aselan said the MLU involved the modernisation and replacement of a total of 21 systems onboard Orucreis.

While Orucreis is the second frigate in the class, it is the first of the Turkish Navy's Barbaros-class frigates to undergo the MLU.

The work began in January 2022 and was carried out under contracts awarded by the Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) to Havelsan and Aselsan in 2018 and has included the replacement of all existing radar (with the exception of the Thales Smart-S), the electronic warfare and sonar suites, and self-defence systems.

Notable MLU enhancements include the installation of the Akrep 300 fire-control radar and Cenk 200-N 3D surveillance radar, the Ares-2N radar-band electronic support system and AREAS-2NC electronic countermeasures suite, and the Kartaca-N chaff/decoy launching system.

The communication suite has been updated with the GEMS integrated naval communication system, TUMSIS X-band satellite communication system, and the Mode 5 identification friend-or-foe system.

Electro-optic enhancements include the addition of LIAS 200D laser warning receivers, a Piri infrared search-and-track system, and the Denizgözü Marti electro-optical reconnaissance and surveillance system.

The frigate has been updated with new weapon systems including the SMASH remote-controlled stabilised gun system and Gökdeniz close-in weapon system (CIWS), and Atmaca and TAKS gun fire-control systems have been integrated.

Meanwhile, the underwater warfare suite has been upgraded with the Fersah 100-N/MF hull-mounted mid-frequency anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonar and the Hızır torpedo-countermeasures system.