Revving Up the Turkish MILGEM Initiative: Welcome the New Wave of LM2500 Engines!

One year after GE Aerospace’s collaboration initiation with TAIS OG-STM İş Ortaklığı in Istanbul, Türkiye, for the provision of LM2500 maritime gas turbines for the İstif-Class frigates numbered 6 – 8 within the MILGEM project, a procurement process for frigates numbered 9 – 12 has begun. GE Aerospace’s
LM2500, a powerplant propelled by years of innovation, will supply 23 MW of energy to each frigate.

The İstif-class (or I-class) frigates represent an advanced version of the Ada-class corvettes, which are similarly outfitted with LM2500 gas turbines. These ships feature a marginally larger hull, enhancing endurance, broadening range capabilities, and enabling long-range weapon systems. The MILGEM initiative is a distinctly successful undertaking for the Turkish Navy, rooted in regional and global partnerships, and has been disseminated to several nations.

Since 1997, GE Aerospace has provided reliable propulsion systems to the Turkish Naval Forces. Currently, there are 31 LM2500 gas turbines operational across 18 vessels for Türkiye. Beyond the Ada-class corvettes and MILGEM frigates, this includes the Barbaros and Gabya class frigates, along with the DIMDEG fleet replenishment vessel. With extensive operational experience and proven reliability for the Turkish Navy, the LM2500 engine family is perfectly designed for the Navy’s upcoming TF-2000 air defense destroyer.

Worldwide, there are 1,140 GE Aerospace marine gas turbines installed on 513 naval vessels, supplying dependable energy for 39 global fleets. Navies also gain from support across the globe at GE Aerospace’s eight service hubs, enhancing interoperability with allied ships.

For nearly 60 years, GE Aerospace has been a committed partner to Türkiye. With offices and facilities located in Istanbul, Ankara, and Gebze, our team of over 440 professionals backs a deployed fleet of more than 2,300 engines across the commercial and defense sectors in the nation. Our highly proficient engineers at the Türkiye Technology Center contribute significantly to GE Aerospace’s global engineering initiatives concentrated on new engine advancements, software development, and additive manufacturing, thereby strengthening the country’s position as a leading aerospace hub.