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​Turkey’s Newest Intelligence Ship TCG UFUK is Officially in the Inventory

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TCG Ufuk to be Turkey’s eyes&ears / Photo credit: TurDef
TCG Ufuk to be Turkey’s eyes&ears / Photo credit: TurDef

The Turkish Intelligence Ship TCG Ufuk (A-591, Horizon in English) The Ufuk will instantly identify threats to national security by navigating uninterruptedly for 45 days, including international waters, even under severe climatic and sea conditions. It to be country's eyes, ears hopes in Turkey

The ship was officially commissioned at the Istanbul Shipyard in Tuzla. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar, President of Defence Industries Professor Ismail Demir, and STM Defence General Manager Ozgur Guleryuz participated at the ceremony - Turkish source TurDef reported.

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Turkey’s Newest Intelligence Ship TCG UFUK is Officially in the Inventory, TurDef, Defense Express
Turkish Intelligence Ship TCG Ufuk (A-591, Horizon in English) / Photo credit: TurDef

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that TCG UFUK would help Turkey's security and intelligence gathering efforts. He emphasised that only a few countries worldwide had such sophisticated equipment. "Our strength will increase at sea as it has on land and sky," he stated, adding that "the organisation's next goal is to be positioned in space via satellite intelligence," - said Erdogan.

Tayyip Erdogan also stated that the number of countries that import Turkish defence items grows every year. "By the end of this year, we expect our defence and aerospace industry export volume to surpass $4 billion," - he stated.

Turkey’s Newest Intelligence Ship TCG UFUK is Officially in the Inventory, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, TurDef, Defense Express
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that TCG UFUK would help Turkey's security and intelligence gathering efforts / Photo credit: TurDef

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stated that the ministry intends to raise the domestic production rate, which is now at 80%. He went on to say that they want to get to the point where they can design and build high-tech products and export them.

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 started in May 2017.

Turkey’s Newest Intelligence Ship TCG UFUK is Officially in the Inventory, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, TurDef,  Defense Express
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stated that the ministry intends to raise the domestic production rate / Photo credit: TurDef

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 MİLGEM Ada Class Corvette, can navigate for 45 days without interruption in harsh climatic and marine conditions, including international waters.

Turkey’s Newest Intelligence Ship TCG UFUK is Officially in the Inventory, Anadolu Agency, Defense Express
TCG Ufuk / Infographic credit: Anadolu Agency

The ship has overall length of 99.5 meters, maximum width of 14.4 meters, displacement of 2.400 tons, draft of 3.6 meters. It also has platform for a 10-ton helicopter.

As reported Ukraine and Indonesia got in 2021 ADVENT Combat Management System by HAVELSAN company from Turkey.

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