Turkish Navy Reveals Upgraded TF-2000 Air Defense Vessel with Enhanced Features

Defense News ,Turkey :-  Turkey's naval forces have recently disclosed modifications to their planned air defense vessel, the TF-2000, along with detailed information about the ship's armaments. Adm. Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, the commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, visited the Istanbul Shipyard Command and the Naval Forces Design Project Office on February 28 to receive a comprehensive briefing on the design process and the TF-2000 program's future plans.

The TF-2000 is primarily designed to detect and neutralize guided missiles, with the added capability of detecting ballistic missiles, as per the navy's announcement. Although specifics about the number of vessels, budget allocation, and construction timeline remain unclear, the latest iteration of the TF-2000 showcases notable changes from its predecessors.

Unlike the initial design with a displacement of 7,000 tons, the latest version has a displacement of 8,300 tons. The ship's dimensions have also been adjusted, with a length of 149 meters, a width of 21.3 meters, and a draft of 5.75 meters. The vessel's main machinery operates on the CODOG (combined diesel or gas) configuration, enabling it to achieve speeds of 26 knots or more.

Armed with a formidable arsenal, the TF-2000 features a 127mm main gun, two 25mm remote-controlled weapon stations, and a 35mm Gökdeniz close-in weapon system. Additionally, it will be equipped with two Midlas vertical launch systems, housing Siper and Hisar air defense missiles. Notably, the ship has abandoned its previous design with two separate funnels in favor of a single, larger funnel structure.

Structural changes also include the elimination of flexible mission space, resulting in a shorter overall length. The unused space between the funnels and the hangar, originally designed for versatile usage, will no longer accommodate up to 10 standard ISO containers, four 12-meter-long rigid inflatable boats, or various unmanned underwater and surface vessels. Furthermore, the dedicated launchers for the 16 Atmaca anti-ship missiles have been omitted in the latest design.

The TF-2000 is designed to accommodate 130-150 crew members with facilities for 200. It boasts an estimated range of 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots, a minimum 45-day operational capability without replenishments, and the ability to perform missions for 180 days without support from its base. Turkey's navy continues to enhance its naval capabilities with the evolution of the TF-2000 air defense vessel.