Turkey’s navy unveiled changes to its planned air defense vessel, TF-2000, which will have the principal mission of detecting and destroying guided missiles, including ballistic missiles. The ship’s latest design iteration features changes from previous versions, with a length of 149 meters, width of 21.3 meters, and displacement of 8,300 tons. It will be equipped with a CODOG configuration for a speed of 26 knots or more.
Armaments on the TF-2000 will include one 127mm main gun, two 25mm remote controlled weapon stations, one 35mm Gökdeniz close-in weapon system, and two Midlas vertical launch systems. The ship is also set to feature a Levent point defense missile system. The range of the vessel is estimated to be 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots, with a minimum 45-day operational capability without replenishments.
The design office for the TF-2000 program began efforts in July 2017, with the latest design iteration showing structural changes and modifications, including a single large funnel structure and the elimination of flexible mission space. The vessel will accommodate 130-150 crew members with room for 200, and is expected to perform missions for 180 days without base support.
