Türkiye brings new submarine, LCT into service, hoists flag on OPV and USV

The Turkish Naval Forces' second Reis-class submarine TCG Hızırreis , seen on 31 August 2025. (Devrim Yaylali)

The Turkish Naval Forces held a commissioning and flag-hoisting ceremony at Istanbul Naval Shipyard in December 2025 for several newly completed platforms: the second Reis-class (Type 214TN) submarine TCG Hızırreis (S 331); the first Akhisar-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) TCG Koçhisar (P 1221); the Ç-150-class landing craft tank (LCT) TCG Ç-159 (Ç 159); and an ULAQ unmanned surface vehicle (USV).

The first of the two vessels officially commissioned into service was TCG Hızırreis . Its construction began in 2017, and the submarine was launched on 25 May 2023. Türkiye selected thyssenkrupp Marine Systems' (then Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft's) Type 214 air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarine design in 2008 to replace its ageing Type 209 boats. A contract valued at approximately EUR2.5 billion (USD3.96 billion at the time) was signed in 2009, covering material packages for six submarines. The boats are being built at Gölcük Naval Shipyard with a high degree of local content. The Reis-class represents the first AIP-equipped diesel-electric submarines in Turkish Naval Forces service.

The third submarine of the class, TCG Muratreis (S 332), is currently undergoing outfitting. The remaining boats are at various stages of construction: TCG Aydınreis (S 333) was laid down in 2019, TCG Seydialireis (S 334) in 2020, and TCG Selmanreis (S 335) in 2022. All six submarines are planned to enter service by 2029.