Dogan-Class Fast Attack Craft to be Donated to Maldives is 44 Years Old, Turkish Media Reports
Personnel from the Turkish Naval Forces Command training Maldivian personnel assigned to serve on the TCG Volkan | Photo: Anadolu Agency, accessed by Turkish Today on 12 April 2025
Turkish media reported that the Dogan-class fast attack craft, which Turkey will donate to the Maldives under a bilateral agreement, is 44 years old.
The TCG Volkan (P-343), donated to increase the Maldives’ marine military capabilities, was first commissioned into the Turkish Navy in May 1981 and reclassified in 2024 as a test and training vessel.
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According to Turkey Today, the vessel is being donated to the Maldives under the broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Turkey and the Maldives.
The agreement aims to enhance the Maldives’ defense capabilities through material support and training. The Maldives’ Ministry of Defense said yesterday that Maldivian military officers are currently undergoing training in Turkey to prepare for bringing the vessel to the Maldives and operating it. The month-long training will conclude on May 9.
“The introduction of this ship into the service of the military is a very important step taken towards reaching the goal set by the Presidnet of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, to make the Maldives capable of fulfilling its role as a responsible role of the international community in ensuring the safety and security of the Indian ocean,” Ministry of Defence said in a statement yesterday, in Dhivehi.
Turkey Today reported that the vessel would be transferred to the Maldives by mid-2025, specifically between April and June, via sea. As part of the preparations for the transfer, TCG Volkan has undergone maintenance and repairs at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command.
They reported that upon arrival in the Maldives, the Turkish Navy team would activate the missile boat. The transfer process is expected to conclude in July.
Turkey Today also said that following deployment, Turkish naval instructors will deliver two weeks of advanced onboard operational training for the crew in the Maldives.
The Dogan-class, designed by German shipbuilder Lürssen Werft, marked a significant leap in Türkiye’s naval capabilities in the late 20th century, especially as the first class was equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
