STM, a leading Turkish defense contractor, has been awarded by the Portuguese Navy to manufacture Multirole Logistics Ships. As per the agreement, STM will build two multirole logistics ships for the Portuguese Navy.
The contract signing ceremony for the Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ships was held on 17 December 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. The ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, Secretary of Defence Industries of Türkiye; Adm. Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Navy; Carlos Félix, representative of the Portuguese Defence Industries Agency (IdD); Prof. Dr. İhsan Kaya, Vice President at Secretariat of Defence Industries; Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, Haldun Koç, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Lisbon; as well as representatives from the Portuguese Ministry of Defence, the Portuguese Navy, Secretariat of Defence Industries and STM.
Görgün: Türkiye’s first naval procurement project with Portugal
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr Haluk Görgün, delivered the following key messages:
“Today, we are signing a contract for two Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ships for the Portuguese Navy—our first naval procurement project with Portugal. Türkiye’s defence industry, has grown significantly in recent years. Türkiye, which is one of the 10 countries in the world that manufactures its own warship, has now started to produce these products as well as export them to our friendly and allied countries. Developing strong defence and defence industry cooperation with our NATO Allies is a top priority for Türkiye.
We also see this agreement as a step towards greater cooperation in other areas, such as unmanned maritime vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and further shipbuilding and naval modernization projects. We look forward to working together, ensuring timely, high-quality results that will help the Portuguese Navy meet its operational needs for years to come.”
Güleryüz: Our First Naval Export to an EU and NATO Member
Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, highlighted their success in representing the Turkish defence industry on the global stage, stating: “While we continue to strengthen the Turkish Navy with our national platforms, we are also undertaking various surface and submarine projects for Ukraine, Malaysia, and Pakistan. With our engineering and design capabilities, combined with international experience, we implement swift, modular, cost-effective, and collaborative projects that are open to information sharing.”
Highlighting STM’s accomplishments in the field of logistics support vessels, Güleryüz continued:
“The Fleet Tanker PNS MOAWIN, designed for the Pakistan Navy, has been serving as the logistics support and flagship of the fleet since 2018. We have also built and delivered two logistics support ship for the Turkish Navy, which have participated in numerous international maritime operations, including NATO missions.
Today, we are proud to sign the contract for Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ships, a project that will enhance defence cooperation between Türkiye and Portugal. This milestone also represents Türkiye’s first naval ship export to an EU and NATO member country, marking a significant achievement in our defense industry. We deeply appreciate Portugal’s vision for modern naval vessels that meet contemporary demands, as well as their decision to choose Türkiye and STM for this crucial endeavor.”
Multi-Role Capability
Providing details about the ships to be developed under STM’s leadership, Güleryüz stated: “The vessels will feature an original design and modular architecture tailored to optimally meet the strategic objectives and operational requirements of the Portuguese Navy. With their innovative design and multi-role functionality, the Logistics Support Vessels will be capable of conducting joint force projection, amphibious operations, and replenishment at sea. They will boast greater speed and cargo capacity compared to ships of similar size. We believe these ships will make a significant contribution to the Portuguese Navy’s regional operations as a key player in the Atlantic and to NATO missions. The vessels will be constructed in Türkiye under STM’s leadership, with construction set to begin in 2025.”
Technical Specifications
The Multi-Purpose Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR+) vessels are versatile, joint logistics support ship designed to provide both solid and liquid cargo support to surface platforms during peace and war times.
Capabilities
- Replenishment At-Sea
- Command and Control
- Logistics Support
- Medical Support
- Amphibious Operations
- Humanitarian Assistance
- Regional Power Projection
- Search and Rescue
Main Dimensions
- Length Overall (LOA): 137.06 m
- Length Waterline (LWL): 128.76 m
- Breadth (B): 19.10 m
- Design Draught (TDESIGN): 6.70 m
- Displacement (Δ): 11000 tons
General Particulars
- Speed with Diesel Propulsion: 18+ knots
- Speed with Electric Propulsion: 6+ knots
- Cruising Speed: 14 knots
- Range: 14000+ nm at 14 knots speed
- Endurance: 90 days
- Crew: 50 Personnel + Accommodation for 50 additional personnel + Temporary accommodation for 100 pax
Cargo Capacities
- F-76: 4000 m3
- F-44: 350 m3
- Fresh Water: 650 m3
- General Cargo: 700 m3
- Containers: 6 x 20 ft containers on open deck
- Ammunition
