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Turkish shipbuilder DEARSAN unveiled at IDEF 2025 the design of the future Mine Warfare vessel for the Turkish Navy. The vessel will act as a mothership for various mine countermeasures (MCM) drones.
Story by Xavier Vavasseur, additional reporting by Tayfun Ozberk
A project manager at DEARSAN confirmed the company is showcasing the design of this MCM vessel for the very first time. Construction of the first unit for the Turkish Navy is set to start in September 2025. These new vessels are set to gradually replace the French-built Engin-class (Circé type) MCM vessels.
With the contract signed on August 9, 2024, DEARSAN will become the first private shipyard in Türkiye to design and build this high-tech New Generation MCM Vessel.
According to the Turkish Navy’s activity report issues in March 2025, as part of the YMAG (Yeni Tip Mayın Avlama Gemisi or New Type Minehunting Vessel) project, the decision to proceed with the design and construction of the prototype vessel was made by the Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) on January 3, 2024.
Following this decision, a contract for the design and construction of one vessel was signed between DEARSAN and the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) on August 9, 2024, and officially entered into force on November 4, 2024. The activity report mentions that the first MCM ship is expected to enter service in 2028.
According to the shipyard, the vessel has a length of 80 meters, a beam of 16.60 meters and a draft of 3.50 meters. Both the hull and superstructure are made of non-magnetic steel. The crew complement consists in about 60 sailors while the design can accommodate up to 90 people.
Mine warfare mothership design
The vessel features the characteristic shape of modern “mine warfare mothership” boats which use various UxV drones (UAV, USV, UUV) to conduct operations: The motherships (and sailors aboard) remain outside of the minefield while the UxV enter the minefield, which is much safer for the crew. These new MCM vessels feature massive superstructures in order to accomodate the UxV, as seen with the ships of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program (which design was also adopted by the French Navy) and the future New Generation Minehunters/Coastal (NGM/C) of the Italian Navy. The Turkish design adopts a similar (and quite rare) propulsion system to the Italian NGM/C: Two electric Voith Schneider propellers (eVSP), powered by three diesel electric generators.
The design features two large boat bays that can each host a new type of MCM USV currently being developed by DEARSAN. The model shows that these USVs are themselves fitted with drones:
two shallow water AUVs (STM NETA),
two mid-water AUVs (ASELSAN DERINGÖZ),
two multi-purpose ROVs (STM),
and two single/multi shot ROVs (STM).
The ship will be fitted with two cranes aft to launch and recover these underwater vehicles when use of the USV is not required.
There is a large deck space on top of the vessel. The model shows two ISO containers placed in that space but the project manager confirmed that this space will actually be dedicated to the launch and recovery of UAVs.
Weapons, sensors and missions
In terms of weapons the MCM vessel is fitted with an Aselsan SMASH 25mm main gun and two Aselsan STAMP-2 12.7mm remote weapon stations (RWS). The sensor suite consists ASELSAN-made mine hunting sonar (probably MATESS) that will be integrated to ADVENT combat management system by HAVELSAN.
According to DEARSAN, primary missions of the vessel include:
Detecting, identifying and destroying bottom and moored mines
Destroying mines with ROV (remotely operated vehicle)
Surveillance and intelligence
Patrol
Examination of seabed, wrecks and CUI (critical underwater infrastructure)
Detecting and identifying mines with variable depth sonar
Check out our video coverage of the DEARSAN booth at IDEF 2025:
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Comments
- Turkish Navy's ship design office has pretty good designs.Well naval officers know better what suits navies needs than private design offices.All new ships are tailor made to Turkish Navy and can be customized to foreign buyers needs.Fist ships always build by Turkish Navy's shipyards than plans shared to private constructors who can build multiple ships at once.Ships systems are integrated and tested by Navy's shipyard.Sub systems and weapons developed by Turkish Defence Industries according to Turkish Navy's needs.This system works fine.User decides on design and capabilities according to new threats.
- I think it would be wise to establish partnerships with Turkish defense industry companies.
- Great video and interview, as usual. Xavier, did the sales rep tell you anything about the propulsion system of this mine hunter? Looked rather strange to me… 🤔
- That is Voith Schneider propeller I thought the patent holder forbids it to be used in military crafts. Did the patent expired?
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