TF-2000 Destroyer Capabilities

Boost Turkish Navy Air Defense

Türkiye has officially started building its new TF-2000 class destroyers – advanced warships designed to strengthen the Turkish Navy’s air defense capabilities. The first TF-2000 anti-air warfare destroyer began construction on January 2, 2025, at Istanbul Naval Shipyard. This marks a major step for Türkiye’s naval modernization, as the TF-2000s are purpose-built to protect fleet assets from sophisticated airborne threats, including enemy aircraft and guided missiles. Once in service, these destroyers will form the backbone of Türkiye’s naval task groups, escorting high-value units like the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship and future aircraft carriers. Eight TF-2000 vessels are planned in total – a significant expansion aimed at providing the Turkish Navy with a robust, layered air defense umbrella in the blue waters.

TF-2000 Destroyer Capabilities at a Glance

Displacement & Size: ~8,300 tons full load; 149 m length, 21 m beam
Propulsion & Speed: CODOG system with 2 diesels + 2 LM2500 turbines, >26 knots top speed
Missile Arsenal: 96-cell MİDLAS VLS for Siper, Hisar, and Gezgin cruise missiles
Guns & CIWS: 127 mm naval gun, Gökdeniz CIWS, 25 mm remote turrets
Anti-Ship & ASW: 16 Atmaca missiles, torpedoes, VL-ASROC rockets
Sensors: ÇAFRAD AESA radar, sonar suite, EO/IR, LPI radars
Combat Management: ADVENT system by HAVELSAN
Helicopter Facilities: Supports S-70B or rotary UAVs

Advanced Air Defense Systems

At the heart of the TF-2000 is a formidable air and missile defense capability. The destroyers will deploy Türkiye’s indigenous ÇAFRAD radar system and MİDLAS vertical launch cells to engage multiple threats simultaneously. Siper long-range and Hisar-D medium-range missiles will defend against enemy aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.

The ships also field point defense systems, including the Gökdeniz 35 mm CIWS and short-range Levent missiles for close-in protection. This layered approach ensures a protective air shield over naval task forces, significantly boosting the Turkish Navy’s air defense capacity.

Multi-Role Armament and Design

While optimized for air defense, TF-2000s carry powerful strike weapons including 16 Atmaca anti-ship missiles and 127 mm naval artillery. Anti-submarine systems include hull-mounted and towed sonar arrays, torpedo tubes, and VL-ASROC launchers. These ships can operate in all naval domains: air, surface, sub-surface, and land attack.

With a top speed exceeding 26 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles, the ships are designed for long-endurance operations. Their modular architecture also enables upgrades for future threats and missions.

Sensor and EW Systems

The ÇAFRAD radar system delivers long-range detection and tracking of over 2,000 targets. Electronic warfare suites provide jamming, deception, and decoy capabilities. Combined with electro-optical sensors and the ADVENT combat system, the destroyer acts as a networked command hub and sensor node at sea.

ÇAFRAD – Multi-Function Phased Array Radar

IFF – Identification Friend or Foe System / Range: 450 km

CFR – Active Phased Array Multi-Function Radar / Range: 150 km

AYR – Active Phased Array Illumination Radar / Range: 150 km

UMR – Active Phased Array Long Range Surveillance Radar / Range: 450 km

Other Components: Electronic Warfare Suite, Navigation/LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) Radars, Active Communication Antennas

Strategic Role and Outlook

The TF-2000 program is key to transforming the Turkish Navy into a true blue-water force. It closes a long-standing air defense gap in Türkiye’s fleet and allows protection of future carrier strike groups. These destroyers also elevate Türkiye’s contributions to NATO and enable regional power projection from the Black Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean.

With full production expected through the 2030s, TF-2000 destroyers are set to become the flagship air-defense assets of the Turkish fleet. Their cutting-edge design and locally developed systems showcase Türkiye’s growing autonomy in naval defense technologies.