Turkish defense contractor ASFAT has unveiled the design of the TF-2000, the country’s first indigenous air and missile defense destroyer.
Developed under the MILGEM program, the vessel measures 149 meters (489 feet) and is configured for layered defense against guided and ballistic missiles of all ranges.
The design, presented at the recently concluded IDEF 2025 in Istanbul, features a reinforced mast structure supporting ASELSAN’s CAFRAD dual-band active electronically scanned array radar suite.
The suite aims to extend the ship’s electronic warfare profile beyond current I-class frigates, integrating an X-band multi-function radar for targeting, a larger S-band long-range searching radar for detection, and fixed EW arrays.
ASFAT said it is exploring the integration of unmanned surface vessels and swarm-capable drones to expand the destroyer’s role in asymmetric operations.
Construction Timeline
ASFAT CEO Mustafa Ilbas and Navy Commander Adm. Ercument Tatlioglu signed the construction agreement at IDEF 2025 under the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB).
Steel cutting is scheduled for November 2025 at Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command, with the vessel to be assembled from about 60 blocks. The first block is expected to be finished before the end of this year.
The TF-2000 is slated to launch in 2028 and join the Turkish Navy in 2030, becoming a cornerstone of the country’s air and missile defense network.
Analysts said its ballistic missile defense role carries broader implications, shifting responsibilities traditionally held by the Turkish Air Force.
The destroyer is also expected to operate alongside Turkey’s growing fleet of unmanned systems and advanced radars, strengthening joint operations across air, land, and naval domains.
