Corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa
The corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa on the high seas, still flying the Turkish flag
Text: Petr Uzsák
The Ukrainian Navy is eagerly awaiting the delivery of a brand new vessel from Turkey. This is an Ada-class corvette, which was ordered by the client in 2020. The ship was named Hetman Ivan Mazepa after a Cossack leader who opposed the imperial Russia of Tsar Peter the Great at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Ada-class is one of the promising military products of the Turkish shipbuilding industry, as evidenced not only by production for the domestic navy, but also by orders from Pakistan and Malaysia. It is designed as an anti-submarine corvette with a full displacement of 2,300 tons and a length of 100 meters. The main armament consists of a 76 mm deck gun manufactured by OTO Melara, a 35 mm Gokdeniz rapid-fire anti-aircraft gun, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, torpedoes, and large-caliber machine guns. The vessel has a helipad at the rear and a hangar for an on-board helicopter. The offensive missile armament is to consist of either American Harpoon missiles or Ukrainian Neptune missiles.
Cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey began after the removal of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, and one of its most obvious results is the delivery of Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, which became famous immediately after the Russian attack on Ukraine. The contract for the delivery of two Ada-class ships was signed in December 2020, and production preparations began almost immediately. The keel of the first vessel was laid in September 2021 at the RMK shipyard in Istanbul, the hull was launched in October 2022, and the ship was then completed and outfitted.
The corvette is currently undergoing sea trials and is expected to be handed over to the user soon. After delivery and commissioning, the vessel is to become the flagship of the entire Ukrainian Navy. However, given the ongoing war, it is likely that the handover to Ukraine will not be publicly announced. Similarly, its entry into service will probably be announced retroactively, as was the case with Western fighter jets. The primary purpose of the corvette is anti-submarine defense, but the vessel is multifunctional and equipped with a range of advanced electronic systems, which allow extensive capabilities for detecting and evaluating air and surface targets. The ship can also be used as a platform for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Thanks to its modern design, the vessel is said to have significantly reduced radar and infrared detection characteristics. The ship's tactical number is F 211.
Another unit of the same class is currently under construction and has already been launched, with delivery expected later this year. Two more ships of the same class were ordered last year. Licensed production of the vessels in Ukraine was even considered, but this is now rather unrealistic. It can be said that the corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa will be an asset to the Ukrainian Navy, but it remains a one-off, at least until the delivery of the second vessel.
(photos: official sources of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy)
The corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa during its ceremonial launch, October 2, 2022
Corvette during tests with Turkish SH-60 Seahawk landing.