Why?
Not better to go for the TF2000 first?
Let me try to explain my idea, üstad. It was decided to start the design of the TF-2000 in the current year and to allocate a budget for it. In the best case scenario, construction activities will start in 2024. ANMDT Üstad can of course make a much more accurate prediction on this subject. The ship will include many systems that will be integrated for the first time. It will be the pioneer ship of its class and the testing process will be quite detailed in every phase. The target is for the ship to join the inventory in 2027, I don't know if this target can be met, but in my humble opinion, the 2028-2029 range seems more realistic to me.
When the post-launch engineering phases so that test-verification phases are completed of this ship, or at the same time, tenders will be launched for the other 3 ships of the class. In short, according to my estimation, we still have a period of 5-8 years ahead of us for the serial production of the TF-2000. But the launching of the ship of course it will take place earlier. During this period, I am of the opinion that we should produce as many I-class frigates as we can, which will probably be commissioned first ship Istanbul within the year or next year at the latest.
The advanced outfitting activities, integration of combat systems and acceptance tests of these ships will be largely(and some them completly)outside the responsibility of the shipyards that will undertake the hull and superstructure construction. If the construction activities of the first 3 ships can start in 2023, it may be possible to built 3+3 until 2028-2029.
Afterwards, the shipyards building these frigates can continue the serial production activities of the TF-2000 without interruption, or with an additional tender, without leaving any gaps.
Until the TF-2000 serial production phase,
- 2+6 Hısar class multi-role corvettes
- 1+3+3 I-class air defense capable multi-role frigate
- 1 TF-2000 lead ship (Pendik Shipyard)
If we can make such a breakthrough, our navy can eliminate the delays it has been experiencing for a long time in the construction of heavy tonnage warships (i mean upper than littoral ships) with maximum domestic resources and completely domestic design/construction, and in the 2030s, TN can start to realize a expansion period with completely young platforms that the TN' ambitions and the blue homeland doctrine need. Once the mass production of the TF-2000 project begins, the Pendik shipyard can return to the heavy frigate project, which we now refer to as the TF-100.
Of course, these issues are largely about resource planning and priorities. However, in my humble opinion, I believe that we need to renew our navy urgently and as fast as possible, and that the total number and tonnage of platforms in the navy should be increased to a certain extent in the 2030s in terms of geopolitical risks and opportunities.