Türkiye and Qatar Advance $1B ISTIF-Class Frigate Program for Indonesia in DIMDEX 2026.

Turkish shipbuilder TAIS and Qatar’s Barzan Holding signed an agreement at DIMDEX 2026 tied to building two ISTIF-class frigates for Indonesia, a program valued at about $1 billion. The deal highlights a shift toward financing-driven, partnership-based naval procurement as countries seek advanced warships without bearing full program risk alone.

Doha, Qatar, 20 January 2026- Army Recognition reporting from Doha confirms that a significant naval export development emerged on the opening days of DIMDEX 2026, where Turkish shipbuilder TAIS and Qatar’s Barzan Holding formalized a memorandum of understanding linked to the construction of two ISTIF-class frigates for Indonesia, a program valued at approximately $1 billion. Signed in the presence of senior Qatari and Turkish defense officials, the agreement highlights the growing role of DIMDEX as a venue where complex naval procurement projects move beyond discussion into concrete industrial and financial frameworks, reflecting shifting dynamics in global warship acquisition and partnership-driven defense trade.
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ISTIF-class frigates combine long-range endurance with advanced AESA sensors and a networked combat system, delivering multi-role firepower for air defense, anti-ship strike, and anti-submarine warfare through a VLS, modern anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and close-in defenses, optimized for sustained patrols and escort missions across wide maritime areas (Picture source: Türkiye MoD).

The structure of the agreement is as telling as the ships themselves. Defense reporting from Doha indicates Barzan is contracting on behalf of an international client, with Indonesia identified as the end-user and the frigates to be delivered through the Qatari company. That triangulation matters because it points to a procurement model built around risk-sharing, financing, and industrial coordination rather than a simple buyer-to-builder transaction. It also echoes the momentum from IDEF 2025, when Indonesia and TAIS publicly moved toward an I-class frigate acquisition, suggesting DIMDEX is now being used to lock in commercial mechanics and implementation pathways.

The ISTIF, also marketed as the I-class frigate, sits in a sweet spot for a navy that needs reach across thousands of miles without paying destroyer prices. The design features a 113.2 m hull, about 3,150 tons displacement, CODAG propulsion, a top speed exceeding 29 knots, and an endurance of roughly 5,700 nautical miles at 14 knots. The class was conceived with significantly greater fuel capacity and range than the Ada-class corvettes, a design choice that translates directly into longer on-station time and fewer logistics interruptions, a decisive advantage for Indonesian patrol patterns spanning choke points, exclusive economic zones, and remote island chains.

Where the frigate starts to look operationally transformative is its combat system architecture. The baseline Turkish configuration centers on an advanced AESA radar suite, multiple fire-control radars, integrated electro-optical sensors, and a hull-mounted sonar, all tied together by a modern network-centric combat management system. This digital architecture is designed for force-oriented operations, allowing the frigate to share sensor data and targeting information across a task group in real time. For Indonesia, this is more than theoretical capability, as the same combat management philosophy has already been positioned as a common digital backbone across several Indonesian naval platforms, reducing integration risk and shortening the learning curve once new ships enter service.

The weapons package gives the ISTIF its tactical credibility. The frigate is designed around a 16-cell vertical launch system for medium-range surface-to-air missiles, supported by modern anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm main gun, a close-in weapon system optimized against missiles and drones, and lightweight torpedoes paired with dedicated anti-torpedo countermeasures. This layered configuration allows the ship to defend itself and nearby units against air, surface, and subsurface threats simultaneously. In Southeast Asian waters, where unmanned systems, long-range anti-ship missiles, and maritime patrol aircraft are becoming increasingly common, such a balanced loadout is no longer optional but essential.

Indonesia’s requirement for this class of ship is clear. The Navy must replace aging surface combatants while maintaining a persistent presence across one of the world’s largest archipelagos. At the same time, Jakarta faces recurring pressure in the North Natuna Sea, where foreign coast guard and maritime militia activity has intersected with Indonesian energy exploration and fisheries enforcement. A modern multi-role frigate with credible air defense, anti-submarine warfare capability, and long endurance provides the operational flexibility needed to shift from routine sovereignty patrols to high-end deterrence without changing platforms.

Routing the acquisition through a Qatari defense company reflects strategic pragmatism rather than political symbolism. Barzan Holding functions as Qatar’s defense investment and program management arm, with experience in structuring complex international deals, arranging financing, and coordinating industrial participation across borders. In Indonesia, Barzan-linked entities have already pursued joint ventures and defense supply agreements, building institutional familiarity that can be leveraged for a major warship program. For Jakarta, this approach offers access to structured financing, offset opportunities, and a single integrator capable of aligning Turkish shipbuilding expertise with Indonesian naval requirements, reducing program risk in an era where procurement timelines and budgets are under constant pressure.