First Turkey warship docks in Somalia, marking start of 10-year defence pact

The Turkish Navy Ship, Kınalıada F514, arrived at Mogadishu Sea Port on Tuesday, signalling the start of a landmark 10-year defence and economic cooperation agreement signed between Somalia and Turkey in February 2024.

This event marks the first time a Turkish warship has docked at Mogadishu Port.

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud presided over a welcoming ceremony for Turkey’s domestically produced TCG Kınalıada Corvette. He emphasized the strategic partnership between Türkiye and Somalia, particularly in the areas of humanitarian aid, security, defence, and economic development.

On his part, Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in February said Turkey will build, train and equip Somalia's navy.

He argued the agreement would help to remove "any fears of terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, toxic dumping and any external violations or threats" to Somalia's sea coast.

The maritime deal came amid increasing tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, sparked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding, between Addis Ababa and Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region.

Turkey, one of the 10 countries in the world that can build its warship, built Kınalıada F514 which was the fourth national ship produced under the National Ship Project (MILGEM). TCG Kınaliada (F-514) Corvette was first supplied on June 18, 2016.

President @HassanSMohamud presided over a welcoming ceremony for the Türkiye’s domestically produced TCG Kınalıada Corvette, which docked at Mogadishu Port on the occasion of Türkiye’s National Sovereignty and Children's Day.

In his address aboard the navy warship, the… pic.twitter.com/fUpclUfB3P

— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) April 23, 2024

Kınaliada (F-514) features

The striking force of TCG Kınaliada is Turkey's First Sea missile, Atmaca, developed by ROKETSAN. In November 2019, the Hawk was successfully launched from the ship.

TCG Kınalıada helicopter platform, without support, can stay at sea for 10 days. Equipped with the network-assisted data Integrated Combat Management System (ADVENT) produced by HAVELSAN, the Corvette, which is 99 meters tall and 14.4 meters wide, can store 20 tons of weapons and reach a maximum speed of 29+ nautical miles.

With a crew of 95, TCG Kınalıada can be used for above-water warfare, under-sea defence warfare, air defence warfare, reconnaissance surveillance, command and control, and asymmetric defence warfare missions.

It was designed, developed and built by the Tuzla (Istanbul) Naval Shipyard as a part of the MILGEM project, a national warship program of Turkey, and was laid down on October 8, 2015 and launched on July 3, 2017.

It was commissioned on September 29, 2019, after having completed sea trials.

She is powered by two diesel engines and a gas turbine, with a power of 35,000 kilowatts (47,000 hp), driving two propellers, and is capable of speeding up to 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph).

She has a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) and has an endurance of 21 days with logistical support and 10 days while operating autonomously.

It is equipped with a GENESIS combat management system that controls search and navigation radars, electronic warfare suits, weapons, countermeasures, communication devices, and underwater and onboard sensors.

Communication and navigation systems involve satellite communication, X-band, navigation and fire control.

The ship is fitted with sonar developed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey. The whole platform is managed by an advanced integrated platform management system.

The ship is capable of carrying a Sikorsky S-70 helicopter or unmanned aircraft, along with the associated armaments, 20 tons of JP-5 aircraft fuel, aerial refuelling systems and maintenance facilities.