Türkiye Launches Second MILGEM Corvette for Ukraine – Naval News
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On August 01, 2024, the Turkish Istanbul Shipyard launched the second MILGEM corvette, the Hetman Ivan Vygovsky, for the Ukrainian Navy.
The launching ceremony, organized by the prime contractor STM, took place at RMK Marine shipyard in Istanbul. Attendees included First Lady Olena Zelenska, Defense Minister Rustem Umierov, Navy Commander Oleksii Neizhpapa, Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar, and Hero of Ukraine Mustafa Dzhemilev.
“A special day for the whole Ukraine – launch of a powerful corvette Hetman Ivan Vygovsky, the second Ada type, manufactured in Türkiye. It will strengthen security of our country and the entire region. Grateful to our Turkish partners, our diplomats and everyone who contributed to this.”
Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine
The keel laying of Hetman Ivan Vygovsky took place at RMK Marine in Istanbul on August 18, 2023. Approximately one year later, the ship became ready for the launch.
Ambassador: These corvettes will be the flagship of the Ukrainian Navy
Speaking to Naval News, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Mr. Vasyl Bodnar, mentioned that Milgem Ada-class corvettes, being constructed by the Turkish company STM for Ukraine, are set to become the flagships of the modern Ukrainian Navy. “Equipped with advanced systems and weapons from leading Turkish companies, these corvettes will enhance Ukraine’s capability to ensure military and economic security at sea,” Bodnar said.
The immediate start of their operation provides an opportunity to train personnel and quickly integrate the ships into the Ukrainian Navy. Mr. Bodnar also touched on the strategic cooperation between Türkiye and Ukraine in defence field, “The construction of these corvettes by Türkiye highlights the strategic partnership between our countries and strengthens Ukraine’s defense capabilities.“
“In this regard August 1 was a special day for the whole Ukraine, when the second Ada type powerful corvette Hetman Ivan Vygovsky was launched in Istanbul. High level Ukrainian delegation participated in the official ceremony. The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska accompanied by Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and Chief Navy Commander Leonid Neizhpapa were key speakers at the ceremony. For sure, when finished, this ship will strengthen security of our country and the entire region. We are sincerely grateful to our Turkish partners for fruitful cooperation and considerable results.”
Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Türkiye
Bodnar also informed that The Ukrainian delegation paid a visit to Hetman Ivan Mazepa, the first MILGEM corvette for Ukraine which is currently at sea trials, met the captain and crew, and gave a symbolic gift – a painting of Hetman Ivan Mazepa.
Ukraine’s corvettes have been named after prominent Ukrainian Hetmans Ivan Mazepa and Ivan Vyhovskyi.
About Ukraine’s MILGEM corvette
Türkiye and Ukraine signed a military cooperation agreement on 16 October 2020, outlining the parties’ intentions to launch and implement joint projects to construct warships, unmanned aerial vehicles, and all types of turbine engines.
Turkiye was supposed to build two corvettes for the Ukrainian Navy under the terms of the agreement, however, Mr. Bodnar stated in the interview that they may procure four corvettes within the scope of the project. Turkiye’s RMK Marine Shipyard launched Ukraine’s first Ada-class corvette, Hetman Ivan Mazepa (F-211), in Istanbul on 02 October 2022, and the sea trials of the first corvette are still ongoing.
Ukraine’s new corvettes will be capable of countering surface, aerial and underwater threats. The corvette is fitted with a Leonardo 76 mm Super Rapid gun with a stealth cupola, and a 35mm Gökdeniz close-in weapon system.
Small uplink antennas on the aft side of the ship are likely intended to guide the VL MICA surface-to-air missile system. Initially, Ukrainian media reported that VL MICA missiles by MBDA, launched from a vertical launch system (VLS), would serve as the Corvette’s air defense system. During IDEF 2023, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Mr. Vasyl Bodnar, confirmed to Naval News that France would supply these missiles.
Similar to the ADA class, the air surveillance radar is the Smart-S Mk 2, with the ARES-2 ESM located under the radar. Hetman Ivan Mazepa-class corvettes also feature a fire control radar, either the STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 or the Aselsan AKR-D fire control radar.
Radio Svoboda, a Ukrainian news outlet, had claimed on 09 August 2021, that the Ukraine Defense Ministry revealed that the corvettes will be equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles as their primary strike system. Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister stated that the country was considering the indigenous Neptune anti-ship missile, as well as the Harpoon, Atmaca, and Naval Strike Missile.
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