Turkey Successful Tests First Indigenous 127mm Naval Gun on TCG Fatih Frigate

Turkey’s defence industry has achieved a significant milestone with the successful production and testing of a new 127 mm/54-calibre naval gun barrel by MKE. The barrel was installed aboard the frigate TCG FATİH (F-242) and, following integration with ship-board systems, completed its first live firing. According to MKE, this marks the first time an entirely domestic 127 mm naval gun barrel has been fired from a Turkish warship.

Integrating the System: Trials and Testing

The installation process aboard the TCG Fatih involved mechanical fit-up of the barrel within the mount, synchronization of fire-control interfaces, and alignment with the ship’s sensors and magazine systems. The first trial firings successfully demonstrated structural integrity, expected recoil behaviour and compatibility with the ship’s fire-control system. MKE described the event as a “key step” toward qualification and serial production.

Capabilities of the 127 mm/54 Naval Gun Barrel

• The 127 mm calibre (5-inch) barrel in a 54-calibre length measures roughly 6.85 metres, enabling high muzzle velocity and extended range.

• As part of the Denizhan national naval gun project, the system is intended for surface-fire support and anti-surface warfare.

• Domestic production strengthens Turkey’s supply-chain independence, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

• The system is expected to support modular ammunition, including extended-range or guided rounds.

What Turkey Was Using Before

Before this development, the Turkish Navy relied heavily on imported naval gun systems or older domestic variants. The most common modern standard worldwide in this calibre has been the U.S. Navy’s 5-inch/54 Mk 45 naval gun, a system long used on NATO warships. Turkey had already progressed with the MKE 76 mm/62-calibre national naval gun, but the new 127 mm system marks a major step upward in firepower and range.

Strategic Significance

• Enhanced Fire Support: The 127 mm gun gives Turkish warships a powerful tool for long-range naval gunfire support.

• Industrial Sovereignty: Locally developed large-calibre naval weapons strengthen national defence-industrial capability.

• Fleet Modernisation: Integration on TCG Fatih suggests future deployment on advanced vessels such as the TF-2000 air-defence destroyer.

• Export Potential: A fully indigenous naval gun may open new international markets for Turkish defence exports.

What to Expect

MKE and the Turkish Navy will proceed with qualification firings, wider fleet integration, and operational testing. The data collected aboard TCG Fatih will guide final refinements ahead of serial manufacturing. MKE’s long-term vision targets full nationalisation of all major naval-gun components, including precision ammunition.

With the firing of the 127 mm/54-calibre naval gun barrel aboard TCG Fatih, Turkey has underlined its ambition to field home-grown heavy naval artillery. This milestone not only demonstrates technical capability but reflects Ankara’s broader strategy of self-reliance in defence manufacturing. As development continues, the Turkish Navy is set to gain a more powerful, domestically built naval gun, enhancing its firepower, operational flexibility and strategic reach at sea.