Türkiye to export first military ships to EU, NATO member Portugal

By Emirhan Yilmaz

LISBON (AA) — For the first time in its history, Türkiye has signed a contract to export military ships to a member of both the EU and NATO, Portugal.

Under the agreement, signed Tuesday in Lisbon, Türkiye will design and build two auxiliary oiler replenisher and logistics vessels for the Portuguese Navy, with Ankara-based defense technologies company STM serving as prime contractor.

The contract signing ceremony was attended by STM General Manager Ozgur Guleryuz, as well as the head of Türkiye's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), Haluk Gorgun, Portugal's Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Henrique Gouveia e Melo and Carlos Felix, representative of the Portuguese Defense Industries Agency.

Speaking at the event, SSM Secretary Gorgun emphasized Türkiye’s priority to strengthen defense industry cooperation with NATO allies.

Türkiye, one of the world's 10 countries capable of building its own warships, is now exporting them to friendly and allied nations, Gorgun said.

"These two ships will enhance the Portuguese Navy’s operational effectiveness at sea, improve its resilience, and enable it to respond swiftly to various missions, including humanitarian efforts, training exercises, and joint operations with other allies," he added.

Adm. Gouveia e Melo highlighted the potential for deeper defense collaborations between Türkiye and Portugal, particularly in maritime and unmanned systems.

"These collaborations can help both nations reach new markets and contribute to their economies, technological sovereignty, and capacities as allied countries," he said, also underscoring the strategic importance of Türkiye's Black Sea gateway and Portugal's position at the Mediterranean’s western entrance.

STM’s Guleryuz noted the company’s significant contributions to the Turkish Navy via locally designed and produced platforms, as well as its involvement in naval projects for Ukraine, Malaysia, and Pakistan.

- Ship features and capabilities

With their innovative design and versatile mission functionality, the logistics support ships will be capable of performing joint power transfer, amphibious operations, and replenishment at sea.

The construction of the replenishment at sea and logistics support ships, regarded as a milestone in showcasing Türkiye's advanced military naval engineering, will feature a modular design.

Thanks to their modular, unique, and adaptable structures, the ships will also support tasks such as humanitarian aid, search and rescue missions, and serving as hospital ships during crises.

Equipped with an integrated communication system, the ships will provide command and control capabilities.

The construction of the vessels, which will feature higher speed and cargo capacity compared to other ships of similar size, will begin in Türkiye in 2025 under STM's leadership as the prime contractor.

The ships will measure 137 meters in length, have a displacement of 11,000 tons, and achieve a maximum speed exceeding 18 knots.

They will be capable of continuous operation at sea for up to 90 days, accommodating 100 onboard personnel and an additional 100 external personnel.

The ships will also have the capacity to carry up to 20 light tactical armored vehicles and will be equipped with sensor and weapon systems for various combat scenarios, particularly air defense.

Key armaments will include close-in air defense systems, 12.7-millimeter remote-controlled weapon systems, and chaff/decoy systems.

Additionally, the ships will feature platforms and hangars to accommodate helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).