Turkey’s first F515 Istanbul-class frigate. January 2021. Photo: Turkish media
Turkey is exporting warships to a European Union and NATO member state for the first time. An agreement on the construction of two ships for the Portuguese Navy was signed with the Turkish company STM Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. This was reported by TRT Haber.
Under the contract, STM will act as the general contractor and build two resupply and logistics ships for the Portuguese Navy. This contract is an important step for Turkey, opening up new opportunities for cooperation with the EU and NATO in the military-industrial complex.
Turkey is a reliable partner in shipbuilding
STM has already established itself in the international arena, in particular as a contractor for the construction of Ada-class corvettes for the Ukrainian Navy. Recently, the second Ukrainian corvette, Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky (F-212), designed by the same company, was launched.
The contract with Portugal underscores Turkey’s growing influence in the warship market. This is not only the first time that Turkish warships have been exported to a NATO and EU country, but also evidence of Turkey’s growing role as a defence technology partner.
Turkey is already actively cooperating with Ukraine in the field of military equipment. The Ada-class corvettes being built for the Ukrainian Navy are part of a large-scale project to modernise the Ukrainian fleet. This strengthens the strategic alliance between the countries amid security challenges in the region.
The agreement with Portugal demonstrates Turkey’s potential to expand its presence in the warship market among European and global countries.
