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Hetman Ivan Mazepa - MILGEM Corvette

Along with buying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey, Ukraine decided to strengthen its navy with Ada-class corvettes thanks to the agreement between the two countries. In December 2020, Ukraine and Turkey quite unexpectedly concluded a framework agreement for the construction of Ada-class corvettes, which provided for the localization of construction at Ukrainian enterprises.

Russia had abandoned the construction of a series of stealth corvettes. The official reason is that the project's novelty coefficient and estimated cost are too high. Russia has been developing and building new stealth corvettes for several years, which have been called “a breakthrough into the future” and “the pride of any fleet,” but in 2023 it became known that the program will be closed. There are no plans to further lay down such ships for the Russian Navy. “The program for the construction of missile stealth corvettes of Project 20386 in the current version will be closed; further laying of such ships for the Navy of the Russian Federation is not planned,” the Russian TASS agency wrote on 07 July 2023, citing a source in the military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation.

A TASS source reported that the problem was “the novelty factor of the project and the estimated cost were too high” and this did not allow the ship to be put into mass production. Previously, the ships of this project were called “a breakthrough into the future” and “the pride of any fleet,” and the Navy wanted to get more than 10 full-fledged stealth ships, that is, invisible to detection equipment. According to the plan, the Project 20386 ship was a kind of intermediate class between a patrol ship and a full-fledged frigate.

Ada is a type of missile corvette developed for the Turkish Navy. Vessels of this class are designed both for patrolling on the high seas and for anti-submarine operations. The design of the ships incorporates the principles of stealth technology. The corvette has a displacement of 2.4 thousand tons, 99.56 m in length and 14.4 m in width. On the deck of the corvette there is a helicopter landing area. We created a project to work in the Black and Mediterranean Seas, where it can continuously perform tasks for 21 days.

The Ada-class corvette can carry out the determination, location, classification, identification and destruction of air, surface and underwater targets as well as provide naval gunfire support. In addition to avoiding any potential threats, corvettes can perform maritime operations such as maritime surveillance and patrols, coastal and infrastructure protection, and the supervision and surveillance of exclusive economic zones.

It is noted that Turkish shipbuilders made a number of changes to the design - at the request of Kyiv. In particular, the layout of the hull in the engine room area will be different - for installing another engine. In addition, the aft part was transformed, where the French VL MICA anti-aircraft missile system will be located.

Under the procurement deal, Ukraine aims to strengthen its navy in order to boost security in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The Ada-class corvette can carry out the determination, location, classification, identification and destruction of air, surface and underwater targets as well as provide naval gunfire support. In addition to avoiding any potential threats, corvettes can perform maritime operations such as maritime surveillance and patrols, coastal and infrastructure protection, and the supervision and surveillance of exclusive economic zones.

The agreement between Turkey and Ukraine for the sale of a batch of Turkish-built corvettes turned out to involve two vessels, according to Ukraine’s Consul General in Istanbul, Oleksandr Haman. Speaking with a Turkish TV channel, he said that the deal covered two Ada-class corvettes to be co-produced by STM, which is Turkey’s state-controlled defense technologies company, and a Ukrainian shipyard. Under the contract signed, the first vessel shall be delivered to Ukraine by the end of 2023 unfinished, to be completed at Ukrainian capacities. The Ukrainian Navy intended to deploy the corvettes in both the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. A source in Turkey’s procurement circles said the contract is worth nearly EUR 200 million (US$ 236 million), although the sum could change depending on workshare agreements and ship configurations.

Under the agreements signed in October and December of 2020, first of the corvettes would be built in Turkey while the rest are to be produced in Okean Shipyard. Ukraine ordered 1+3 ADA Class corvette type warships from Turkey in 2020. Production of corvettes for the Ukrainian Navy using Turkish technologies will take place at the Okean shipyard in the Ukrainian city of Nikolaev, the shipyard said in a statement 22 December 2020. The statement said that within the scope of agreements signed in October and on Dec. 14 between the two countries for military cooperation, a memorandum was signed with Turkey's Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) to produce corvettes for the Ukrainian Navy.

“The Black Sea theater of military operations is very small, and the saturation of aviation in occupied Crimea is extremely high. Russia has filled Crimea with aircraft. And, again, the Russians now have about 300 missiles in one salvo. That is, we need very powerful air and missile defense. Even one corvette will be able to provide an anti-aircraft and anti-missile canopy to the rest of the group,” said Deputy Director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Research Mikhail Samus in 2021.

In February 2021, the parties decided that only the hull of the first ship will be produced in Turkey and remaining construction will take place in Ukraine, according to local media.

In a speech to the Ukrainian Navy at Odessa region on 05 July 2021, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Our Turkish friends are actively supporting the development of the Ukrainian navy. The first foundation of our modern corvettes has already been laid in Turkey and will be completed in Ukraine by the end of 2023.”

In a news report by Anadolu Agency on December 22, 2020, it was noted that the corvettes would be built at the Ocean Shipyard (PJSC Mykolaiv Shipyard Ocean) in the city of Nikolayev (Mykolaiv/Mykolaiv), the main shipbuilding center of Ukraine. However, during the Ukraine – Russia War, which broke out on February 24, 2022, the port city of Nikolayev/Mykolaiv was also targeted, and the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that up to 500 Ukrainian soldiers died in an air attack on a shipbuilding facility (Ocean Shipyard) in the port of Nikolayev on June 22, 2022.

The shipyard was chosen by the presidency after taking into consideration its specifications and qualified personnel, it added. In July 2021, more details regarding the deal emerged. In 2021, UAH 3.8 billion was provided for financing the project. At the same time, it was reported that the cost of one vessel was almost UAH 7 billion. The contract for the construction of two corvettes for Ukraine was concluded with Turkey in September 2021.

Unlike the ADA Class, the ships mount a 76mm Leonardo Super Rapid (There is a Compact version in the ADA Class) Naval Gun, Hull Mounted YAKAMOS Block-2 DSH Sonar, 35mm GÖKDENIZ Close Air Defense Weapon System (CIWS), MBDA product MICA VL Air Defense System (at the stern, on both sides of the helicopter hangar, on the pier and in two separate VLSs of 4 cells each placed on the starboard side), NEPTUNE and HARPOON Anti-Ship Guided Projectiles, 324mm MU90 Impact lightweight Torpedoes, ARES-2N(V)2 Radar Electronic Support (ED) and AREAS-2NC Radar Electronic Attack (ET) Systems will take place.

On November 2, 2021, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the Ukrainian Naval Forces personnel were given 'Navy Internship' Training on the TCG Kinaliada Corvette and shared a few images from the training.

The future flagship of the Ukrainian Navy corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa is going to join the fleet of Ukraine in 2024. A ship’s laying ceremony was held on 07 September 2021. The construction was very fast. On September 14, the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Rear Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa, said that almost 13 sections and the keel of the ship were formed, and by April 2022, all sections were ready.

After the start of a full-scale invasion by Russian troops, there was a prolonged absence of any news or updates regarding corvettes. In August, by decree No. 586/2022, the first ship was named “Hetman Ivan Mazepa.” “In order to restore the historical traditions of the national army, perpetuate the memory of the outstanding Ukrainian statesman of the Hetman of Zaporizhzhya Army Ivan Mazepa, I decide: To assign the Ada-class corvette of the Ukrainian Navy the name of Hetman Ivan Mazepa and to further name this corvette – the corvette “Hetman Ivan Mazepa,” the document said.

Mazepa was a prominent Ukrainian Cossack leader from the 18th century whi served as the Hetman of the Zaporizhian Host and the Left-bank Ukraine in 1687–1708, and a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (1707-1709). For a long time he supported the Moscow kingdom in the Northern War with the Swedish Empire , but in 1708 he sided with the Swedes. On June 27, 1709, the Battle of Poltava took place. The winner was the Muscovite Kingdom, as a result of which the plans of the Swedish Empire to subjugate Northern Europe failed. After the defeat at Poltava, he was forced to move to the Moldavian principality. The image of an ungrateful traitor, created during Peter's reign, was later supported by the Great Russian official ideology. In September 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, after the beginning of granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church , announced that it had never recognized the non-canonical anathema imposed on Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Mazepa by the Russian Orthodox Church.

The first corvette "Hetman Ivan Mazepa" was launched in October 2022. First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska took part in the launching ceremony, together with the commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa. “Today, Turkey had the honor of launching a corvette that will serve Ukraine and at the same time have a Turkish heart," Zelenska wrote on social media after the ceremony.

The corvette “Getman Ivan Mazepa” is the future flagship of the Ukrainian Navy; it will replace the frigate “Getman Sahaidachny” (tail number F130), sunk by Ukrainian troops to avoid capture in Nikolaev (March 2-3, 2022) after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukraine-produced NEPTUNE Missile was selected as the anti-ship missile in the ADA Class Corvette, which will be produced for Ukraine under the main contractor of STM. However, the Ukrainian defense sector suffered great damage during the war. Currently, Roketsan produced ATMACA and Boeing produced Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles are being evaluated. Both missiles are of NATO standard.

On 18 August 2023 a ceremony was held in Turkey to lay down the second ship of the "ADA" type for the needs of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine In Turkey, with the participation of the Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vice Admiral Andriy Tarasov, as part of the delegation of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, headed by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Volodymyr Gavrylov, a ceremony was held to lay down the second ship of the "corvette" class for the needs of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Celebrations on the occasion of laying the keel of the "ADA" type ship were held at one of the shipbuilding enterprises in the city of Istanbul. According to existing agreements, this is already the second corvette being built by the Republic of Turkey for the needs of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It should be noted that all work is carried out on time in accordance with the schedules and concluded contracts.

By August 2023 Ukraine was on its way to increase its MILGEM Corvette order from Turkey to four. Construction activities of the first two corvettes were currently continuing in Turkey. According to information compiled by SavunmaSanayiST.com; Ukraine is on its way to increase its MILGEM Corvette order from Turkey to 4. Regarding the issue, Ukraine's Ambassador to Ankara Vasyl Bodnar made a statement to Naval News on the subject. In the statement made by Bodnar, “Our close cooperation with Turkey has a significant impact on our defense capabilities."

Referring to the 2 new corvettes to be ordered, Vasyl Bodnar said, “We have already signed a memorandum on 4 corvettes and it depends on the situation on the front. We will see how the construction will continue and where we can do it. There was also an idea to continue construction at Ukrainian shipyards. But today, due to military activities and danger, they will most likely be built here in Turkey.” said.

Referring to the training activities of the Ukrainian crews who will take part in the corvettes, Bodnar made the following statements: “First of all, they will start training on land with the equipment, engines, ammunition, guns and all the systems they will have. So land training still continues." Then, when the ship goes to sea, it will most likely do so on the territory of the ports located here. Its whereabouts are still secret for security reasons, but they will still have the opportunity to work with the Turkish company that built it. "Later, naval exercises will be held depending on the decision of both parties."

Alexander Myronyuk: “The possibility of the Europe-based MBDA-produced MICA system is being evaluated as an air defense missile system on ADA Class Corvettes to be produced for Ukraine. The manufacturer stated that the missiles are ready to be delivered to Ukraine. The system planned to be purchased is a modern system that is constantly evolving and adapted for use with corvettes. Turkish corvettes have much more opportunities in this regard.”

“Thus, the Ukrainian corvette will be much more efficient than its Black Sea counterparts compared to the basic version of the ADA, thanks to a more powerful air defense system,” Defense Express reported. To explain, Russian corvettes of the “Buyan-M” class and project 22160 do not have sufficient air defense, which allows even the Bayraktar TB2 Armed UAV to operate.” he added.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Turkey on a visit 08 March 2024. Zelensky met with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They discussed the course of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the continuation of the agreement on the grain corridor and bilateral relations. He visited Turkish shipyard RMK Marine in Istanbul, where he was shown the construction of an Ada-class corvette for the Naval Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. By presidential decree, he was given the name "Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi".

The keel of "Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky" was laid in August 2023. The Armed Forces Navy informed that the second corvette would be armed with MICA VL anti-aircraft missile systems, 76 and 35 mm caliber guns, anti-ship cruise missiles (8 launchers) and Murene 90 Impact torpedoes.

It was planned that two corvettes would be built by Turkey and finished in Ukraine. There was also information that Ukraine was interested in building two more corvettes completely on Ukrainian territory. It was planned that the first hull of the corvette would be completed at the Ukrainian shipyard by the end of 2023. It is known that the Turkish side chose the Okean Shipyard in Mykolaiv as a Ukrainian contractor.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine had plans to install on a ship’s board a naval version of the Mi-2 helicopter, which was supposed to be developed by the Motor Sich enterprise. “By 2023 – the creation of a helicopter for the corvette, involving the installation of a mechanism for the blades’ folding, so that it can fit in the hangar of the ship. It is supposed to be performed in two versions – search & rescue, and anti-submarine,” said Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksandr Mironyuk.

Volodymyr B. noted that in general, the contract was criticized because of the fact that the purchase of two corvettes at the present stage of the development of the Ukrainian Navy could cause more harm than good. The main problem was cost. One ship cost almost UAH 7 billion, and this amounted to 30% of the entire budget for defense purchases. “It’s just very expensive. Astronomical figures for Ukraine. And most importantly, we already had a fleet development program – a mosquito fleet of missile boats. I want to emphasize that we had a concept of development, and funds were already allocated for this. Obviously, our response at sea should be asymmetrical. But corvettes are something that we came up with ourselves, something we think we need,” said Taras Chmut in an interview with Focus magazine.

The second issue is that the purchase of ships of this class contradicts the Development Strategy of the Ukrainian Navy, which envisaged the procurement of corvettes for the exclusive control of the maritime economic zone in 2025-2030.

The third problem is the delivery of the ship to the base point and its deployment there. Such a ship will immediately become the number one target for the Russians. Attempts to destroy or damage the ship may be immediately upon entering the territorial waters of Ukraine. The ship will also not be able to confidently operate outside the home base due to the constant threat from the Russian fleet, coastal missile systems and aviation.

To counteract the enemy’s means of defeat requires training and coherence of the ship’s command, which is achieved by frequent exercises, which, according to known information, except for internships and ships of the Turkish Navy, were not carried out. The corvette can complement the air defense of the home base as a means of detecting and defeating air targets. It also raised and still raises questions about the armament of the corvette, there is still no official and clear information about it.