Istanbul Shipyard today launched the lead ship of the I-class frigates, the future TCG Istanbul (pennant number: F-515), Naval News informs. The ceremony hosted VIP guests including President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ministry of Defence Hulusi Akar, Chief of the Turkish Armed Forces and Chief of the Turkish Navy. Pakistan Navy’s third ADA-class corvette’s (MILGEM) first welding was also conducted during the ceremony.
The launch ceremony was planned to be conducted on 17th January, but it was postponed due to the heavy snow in Istanbul.
According to Naval News, Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasized the importance of indigenization in the defence industry during his speech at the ceremony. He criticised the direct and indirect sanctions imposed on Turkey and outlined the indigenous products developed by the Turkish Defence Industry.
