The national corvette program, MILGEM, which seeks to build a modern combat warship using extensive stealth technology, launched the warship Heybeliada and minesweeper Akçay in Istanbul on Saturday.
The first vessel of a national project to build 12 ships for the Turkish Navy was launched in Istanbul this weekend. The national corvette program, MILGEM, which seeks to build a modern combat warship using extensive stealth technology, launched the warship Heybeliada and minesweeper Akçay in Istanbul on Saturday. The navy recognized that it could create a national ship project using private sector shipyards, universities and national industries. Plans for the MILGEM program include constructing 12 corvettes using predominantly domestic resources and systems. With 40 domestic companies participating, roughly 80 percent of the ships' systems will be designed and constructed in Turkey. Heybeliada's construction began March 12, 2004, and the ship will be entering into service 2011. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said recent developments in the region pointed towards the importance of naval power. “We seek to minimize the Turkish Armed Forces' dependence on foreign powers, particularly by ensuring that our navy's needs are met by our national industry.”
