Tepe-class destroyer

The Tepe-class destroyer (also known as the TF-2000 class) is a future anti-air warfare guided-missile destroyer class developed by the Turkish Naval Institute and currently under construction for the Turkish Naval Forces. The lead ship will be named TCG Kocatepe. The class will provide survivability in the presence of aerial threat and also support mission functions such as command, control, and communications, reconnaissance, early warning, surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare. Moreover, once in service, the Tepe-class destroyers are slated to be an integral part of Türkiye's expeditionary strike groups centered around the TCG Anadolu LHD and the country's future MUGEM-class aircraft carrier. The construction of the first Tepe-class destroyer, the first MUGEM-class aircraft carrier, and the first MILDEN-class submarine began in the same day, on January 2, 2025. The first Tepe-class destroyer and the first MUGEM-class aircraft carrier are being built at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, while the first MILDEN-class submarine is being built at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard. Large capital vessels like the TCG Anadolu and the MUGEM-class aircraft carriers require destroyer escorts to defend them against enemy aircraft, ships and submarines, a duty that will be undertaken by the Tepe-class destroyers. On 5 December 2007, the Defence Industry Executive Committee approved plans to build six ships of this class (4 fixed, 2 optional). In January 2013, it was announced that Türkiye was planning to acquire a total of 8 Tepe-class destroyers, which was confirmed at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2021. With the realization of the project, it is intended to improve the anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities of the Turkish Navy.