Turkey’s TAIS Shipyards has entered into a landmark $1-billion defense agreement with Qatar’s Barzan Holding to facilitate the delivery of two Istanbul-class frigates to the Indonesian Navy. Signed at the DIMDEX 2026 exhibition in Doha, the deal underscores Turkey’s growing role as an exporter of advanced naval platforms and reflects a collaborative procurement approach involving multiple international stakeholders. Unlike a conventional shipbuilding contract, the agreement reportedly incorporates shared financing structures, industrial cooperation, and risk-sharing arrangements, signaling a more flexible and strategic defense partnership model. The frigates represent the first export success of Turkey’s Istanbul-class design, following a preliminary understanding reached with Indonesia earlier in the year. For Jakarta, the acquisition forms part of a multi-track naval modernization effort that already includes Italian-built Thaon di Revel-class frigates and domestically constructed vessels based on the UK-designed Arrowhead 140. Developed under the MİLGEM program, the Istanbul-class is optimized for modern naval warfare, combining extended endurance with advanced sensors and weapons. Built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, the frigates feature a 113-meter hull, advanced propulsion for high-speed operations, and an operational range suitable for sustained regional patrols. Their combat systems integrate Turkish-made missiles, radars, close-in defense, and a network-centric combat management architecture. Capable of missions ranging from maritime surveillance and EEZ protection to threat detection and deterrence, the ships will bolster Indonesia’s surface fleet while reinforcing Turkey’s position in the global naval export market.
