The Turkish shipbuilding consortium TAIS has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Barzan Holding, the investment arm of Qatar’s Ministry of Defense, paving the way for the construction of two ISTIF-class frigates for the Indonesian Armed Forces in a deal valued at approximately $1 billion.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026) in Qatar’s capital. Under the MoU, TAIS and Barzan Holding will cooperate through a Qatar-based company to deliver the frigates to Indonesia.
The signing ceremony was attended by Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, as well as Türkiye’s President of Defense Industries Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün.
Export Deal via Barzan Holding
Speaking at the ceremony, Görgün said the agreement highlighted the growing competitiveness and export capacity of Türkiye’s defense industry in global markets.
According to official statements, the contract was signed on behalf of an international customer within Barzan Holding’s global portfolio, meaning the project is structured as an export to a third country rather than a direct procurement by the Qatari Armed Forces.
ISTIF-Class Frigates and MİLGEM Program
Görgün noted that the ISTIF-class frigates offered by TAIS are modern surface combatants developed under Türkiye’s National Ship Project (MİLGEM). The ships feature advanced air defense, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and electronic warfare capabilities.
The platforms also incorporate a high level of local content, with key combat management, sensor, and electronic systems supplied by Turkish defense firms, notably ASELSAN and HAVELSAN.
Indonesian Navy Link and Fast-Delivery Model
Görgün confirmed that TAIS had previously signed an agreement during the IDEF defense exhibition in July 2025 for the supply of frigates to the Indonesian Navy, though the number of ships was not disclosed at the time.
Industry sources later indicated that two frigates originally planned for the Turkish Navy—TCG İzmir and TCG İçel—were reassigned to the export program. To compensate, TAIS will build two additional I-class frigates for the Turkish Navy, which will become the 13th and 14th vessels under the MİLGEM program.
This approach mirrors the “fast delivery” or “gap-filler” strategy used by Italy when it sold PPA-class vessels originally built for its own navy to Indonesia, allowing Jakarta to induct advanced warships more rapidly than through a new-build program.
TAIS currently has seven frigates under construction simultaneously across its shipyards.
About TAIS
TAIS is a Turkish naval shipbuilding consortium formed by Anadolu Shipyard, Sedef Shipyard, and Sefine Shipyard. Operating primarily in the Tuzla and Yalova regions, the consortium is one of Türkiye’s leading builders of military vessels.
With high production capacity, advanced engineering infrastructure, and modern design and manufacturing technologies, TAIS plays a key role in Türkiye’s naval shipbuilding industry. The consortium aims to deliver internationally competitive solutions in naval platform design, modernization, and new-generation warship construction.
