Aselsan Completes Upgrades To Turkish Navy Frigate

Turkish defence firm Aselsan has announced it has completed mid-life upgrades to the Turkish Navy frigate TCG Orucreis.

Works on the Barbaros-class frigate have been extensive: as per a recent company press statement, the firm claims the programme of works on the vessel, based on one of the MEKO family of modular warships, represents “the world’s most comprehensive MEKO-class frigate modernization to date.”

A total of 21 systems have been upgraded with domestically developed technology; they include radar and surveillance equipment, electronic warfare and countermeasures, communication and satellite systems, electro-optics, weapon and fire control technologies, underwater detection and protection, and navigation support.

The firm’s statement added: “In addition to renewing critical combat systems, ASELSAN also carried out extensive platform redesign efforts such as main mast modifications, structural reconfigurations above and below deck, and a series of technical analyses covering marine stability, HVAC systems, power distribution, and electromagnetic compatibility.

“With this milestone project, ASELSAN once again demonstrates its strength in delivering comprehensive, high-performance naval solutions that elevate both national defense and allied interoperability at sea.”

The ongoing modernisation project was agreed in 2018 and took in all four ships in the class: TCG Barbaros, TCG Orucreis, TCG Salihreis, and TCG Kemalreis. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

• You can read more details about the works carried out on the Aselsan website