The Turkish Navy commissioned newest intelligence ship TCG UFUK (A-591), which is identified as a “test and training ship” by Turkish officials. Turkey did not hold a commissioning ceremony for TCG UFUK, but STM Defence, the ship’s major contractor. With the contract signed between the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Presidency of Defence Industries and STM Defence on December 30, 2016, the first works on the Test and Training Ship project, of which we are the main contractor, were started in May 2017.
Testing activities of the Test and Training Ship TCG Ufuk have been completed, and the final acceptance phase has begun. Within the scope of the project, acceptance test activities of the systems were carried out. Mission Systems; Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), Harbour Acceptance Test (HAT) and Sea Acceptance Test (SAT) activities were carried out. LINE and SAT activities of Ship Systems were completed. Now the TCG Ufuk ship is counting the days for the final acceptance.
After the completion of the construction process in the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, the Test and Training Ship TCG Ufuk (A-591) was launched with a ceremony held on February 9, 2019. The ship is planned to be used in the testing and training needs as well as signal and electronic intelligence missions of the Turkish Naval Forces. The Test and Training Ship TCG Ufuk (A-591), designed using the hull form of M?LGEM Ada Class Corvette, can navigate for 45 days without interruption in harsh climatic and marine conditions, including international waters.
TCG UFUK which will be the first intelligence ship in Turkey, is projected to be delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces Command in 2020 with 99.5 meters of overall length, 14.4 meters of maximum width, 2,400 tons of displacement and 3.6 meters of draft, and the necessary platform for a 10-ton helicopter. STM and Turkish electric company ISBIR inked a contract for four sets of 750 kVA generators to be utilized aboard the ship on May 15, 2017. Aselsan is responsible for the ship’s mission systems.