Strana 23
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
REPORT
INFO Eduard
23
June 2025