ANKARA: Türkiye’s defence ministry announced on Thursday that work has begun on the country’s first domestically designed submarine (MILDEN). The ministry also confirmed that Ankara has finalised its first-ever sale of a corvette warship to a NATO partner through an agreement with Romania.
Turkey, a NATO member, has been expanding its defence production and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. Just last week, the country said contractors had started work on the TF-2000 naval air defence destroyer, which will contribute to the planned “Steel Dome” multi-layered defence system.
During its weekly briefing, the ministry reported that ASFAT, a defence firm under its authority, had signed a contract with Romania’s defence ministry to export an Akhisar-class light corvette the first time Turkey has sold such a vessel to a NATO ally.
“Following the construction of the first block of the TF-2000 Air Defense Destroyer at our Istanbul Shipyard Command, construction of the first test block of our National Submarine (MİLDEN) has begun at our Golcuk Shipyard Command,” it said.
