Turkish naval defense company STM has finalized a contract with Portugal for the construction of two Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ships (AOR+). This agreement marks the first naval ship contract between Turkey and a NATO member nation, as announced by STM in a statement on Tuesday.
Haluk Görgün, the Turkish Secretary of Defence Industries, emphasized the significance of this deal, stating, “Türkiye, which is one of the 10 countries in the world that manufactures its own warships, has now started to produce these products as well as export them to our friendly and allied countries. Developing strong defense and defense industry cooperation with our NATO Allies is a top priority for Türkiye.”
The Portuguese navy noted that the AOR+ vessels are designed to transport and resupply naval ships at sea with essential supplies including fuel, drinking water, cargo, and ammunition. Additionally, the vessels will be capable of assisting in disaster response if required.
STM specified that the two AOR+ vessels will be capable of operating at sea for 90 days and possess the capacity to transport armored vehicles, which will enhance their ability to support joint and amphibious operations. Each ship will feature an aft vehicle ramp, allowing for the transport of up to 20 light tactical armored vehicles.
Görgün highlighted that this agreement signifies a step towards expanding collaboration with the Portuguese navy in various areas, including unmanned maritime vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and further shipbuilding and naval modernization initiatives.
The contract was signed in Lisbon, with construction work on the ships set to commence in 2025. The Portuguese navy anticipates delivery of the vessels by 2028.
Turkey has been strengthening its naval defense capabilities and production in recent years, establishing shipyards, floating docks, and multi-purpose vessels. In 2023, Turkish firm Havelsan introduced its unmanned submarine, Caka, intended for infrastructure protection and naval security missions. Earlier this year, the Turkish Aksaz Shipyard inaugurated the first national submarine floating dock with a lifting capacity of 3,000 tons. Additionally, Turkish company Baykar’s unmanned combat aerial vehicle successfully completed its first flight test on the Turkish ship TCG Anadolu.
