Türkiye to export military ships to EU and NATO member Portugal for 1st time
Through Turkish defense giant STM Defence Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc., Türkiye has made its first military ship export to an EU and NATO member country, designing and constructing two Sea Supply and Logistics Support Ships for the Portuguese Navy.
In a competitive tender, STM surpassed global military maritime companies and will build the ships in Türkiye under its own primary contracting.
The signing ceremony for the Sea Supply and Logistics Support Ship (AOR+) Project was held in Lisbon, attended by key officials including Defence Industry President Prof. Dr. Haluk Gorgun, Portuguese Navy Commander Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Portugal Haldun Koc.
Prof. Dr. Gorgun stated, “These two ships will help the Portuguese Navy operate more effectively at sea, increase its resilience, and respond rapidly to various missions such as humanitarian efforts, training exercises, or joint operations with other allies.”
This milestone marks Türkiye’s first military ship export to an EU and NATO member country.
The ships will be 137 meters long, with a displacement of 11,000 tons and a maximum speed of 18+ knots. They are designed to remain at sea for up to 90 days without interruption.
Each ship will accommodate 100 crew members and up to 100 external personnel, with the capacity to carry 20 light tactical armored vehicles.
Equipped with advanced sensor and weapon systems for all basic warfare types, the ships focus on air defense operations. They feature close-in air defense systems, 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon systems, chaff/decoy systems, and other advanced technologies.
The ships also have platforms and a hangar for helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Designed as a multi-purpose joint logistics support vessel, the Sea Supply and Logistics Support Ship (AOR+) will provide both solid and liquid load support to surface platforms during peacetime and wartime.
