Photos of the Burak class F-503 TCG Beykoz corvette of the Turkish Navy were shared on social media. According to the image shared by “Viya”, the cannon and radar of TCG Beykoz corvette, formerly called the D’Estienne d’Orves (Aviso)-class in the French Navy, were upgraded.
According to the examination of the images, the systems replaced in the ships are as follows:
- French-made 100mm CADAM canon instead replaced by Italian Oto Malara 76mm cannon
- French DRBC 32E fire control radar replaced by indigenous ASELSAN AKR tracking and fire control radar
- French DRBV 51A search radar replaced by ASELSAN 3D Search Radar (MAR-D)
Burak-class corvettes, which are six in the Turkish Navy inventory, are between the ages of 43 and 46. These ships were planned to be removed from the inventory in the past years. However, the ships could not be taken out of the inventory due to the delay of the Turkish Navy’s new shipbuilding programs, the tension in the region and the expansion of the Turkish Navy’s mission scope.
“The replaced 100mm guns were heavy and slow. In addition, there is a high dependency on France for spare parts and ammunition. Aviso, namely Burak, class ships are in better condition ships in spite of their age. They are easy to operate, inexpensive and robust ships. The French Navy retired the ships built to replace the Avisos and put the Avisos back on duty with the cannon removed. ” said Kozan Selçuk Erkan, Defense Turk author and naval engineer
France also used the centre line form of Aviso, which was preferable, in the Floréal class reconnaissance-surveillance frigates developed later.
As to the use of corvette, Erkan also said, “There is still no equivalent of corvette design in Greece. They deploy a patrol boat or frigate against the corvettes. For this reason, it is very beneficial for them to remain on duty through cost-effective modifications. ”
The launchers loaded with Javelin and L-UMTAS designed by Roketsan were added to the Burak-class corvettes and shots were made to test them. Among the possible scenarios is the integration of this system, which will be highly deterrent against the close targets in the Aegean.
In addition, even though MM-38 Exocet missiles in the Burak-class have been renovated in the past, the old missiles are considered not to be very effective.
