Türkiye’s naval commander said on 8 November 2026 that Ankara wants to build warships jointly with Egypt under the MILGEM programme, on the model of its cooperation with Pakistan. It is a stated aim: no ship class, shipyard or contract has been announced.
Adm. Ercüment Tatlıoğlu spoke on the distinguished observer day of the Friendship Sea-2026 exercise off Alexandria, according to Anadolu Agency’s Arabic service and Türkiye Today. The two navies have been exercising off the Egyptian coast since 4 November.
What Tatlıoğlu said
In the wording carried by Turkish media, he said Türkiye aimed “to carry out joint shipbuilding activities with Egypt, similar to the cooperation we carried out with Pakistan under the MILGEM project.” He said the approach would take relations between the two navies to “a more comprehensive and lasting partnership.”
He also said the navies were working on the joint use of Turkish-made guided munitions, torpedoes and naval mines, and that Türkiye was taking “concrete steps” with the Egyptian Navy on unmanned aerial and surface vehicles. Turkish reports say the Bayraktar TB3 and the MKE-developed PİRANA kamikaze unmanned surface vessel took part in the exercise. Defence Mena covered the TB3’s deck flying with the Turkish ministry’s figures in this report.
The Pakistan template
The Pakistan reference is specific. Under the PN-MILGEM programme, Türkiye and Pakistan agreed a four-corvette package in which two ships were to be built in Türkiye and two at Karachi, with technology transfer, according to the Turkish and trade reports covering the speech. A similar split with Egypt would mean local construction, but nothing in the speech says that is what is planned.
Who took part
Türkiye sent the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, the frigate TCG Gaziantep, the fast attack craft TCG Meltem, two SH-70 helicopters, three AH-1W attack helicopters and three Bayraktar TB3 drones. Egypt fielded the amphibious ship Gamal Abdel Nasser and the vessels M. Fahmy, El Fateh, Fouad Zekry, El Farouk and Al-Arish. Tatlıoğlu and Egyptian Navy commander Vice Adm. Mahmoud Adel Fawzy followed the drills together.
What is not known
- No Egyptian response. We found no statement from Egypt’s armed forces or defence ministry on shipbuilding with Türkiye in the reports reviewed. The remarks come from the Turkish side only.
- No programme details. There is no announced ship type, number, value, shipyard or timeline.
- Egypt’s existing fleet suppliers. Egypt’s navy has bought from several foreign suppliers over the years, so a Turkish build line would be one option among many. See Egypt’s 10 biggest defence deals and the Egypt military strength profile for the wider picture.
The Friendship Sea drills are part of a wider Cairo–Ankara thaw reported by Turkish and trade media. A shipbuilding deal would be a larger step than drills. Until Egypt or a Turkish shipyard confirms terms, treat the MILGEM plan as an ambition voiced at a naval event.