DESAN Shipyard, part of Turkey’s Kaptanoğlu Group, is strengthening its position in the global naval defense market through major military shipbuilding programs for both domestic and international customers. Drawing on more than a century of maritime heritage, the group has transitioned from commercial shipping into advanced naval construction, delivering complex defense projects on accelerated timelines.
Speaking to Defensehere.com, Mahmut Karagöz, Business Development Manager at DESAN, highlighted the company’s evolution from commercial shipbuilding into a trusted defense partner. “Kaptanoğlu Group has over 100 years of maritime history, making it one of the oldest maritime companies in Turkey,” Karagöz said. “While we started with commercial maintenance and shipbuilding, we later established a dedicated military project team to focus on naval defense programs.”
DESAN’s defense track record began with projects for the Turkish Navy, including the construction of two emergency response and diver training vessels. According to Karagöz, both vessels were delivered four months ahead of schedule—an uncommon achievement in the defense sector. The shipyard later completed four large support vessels, further expanding its naval portfolio.
Internationally, DESAN has recently secured a high-profile contract with the Malaysian Coast Guard (MMEA) for the construction of a 99-meter multipurpose mission ship. The contract was signed on the opening day of LIMA, and the vessel will be built in Turkey using a Turkish design and integrated with weapon systems from multiple Turkish defense companies.
“This is a very challenging project,” Karagöz explained. “A ship of this size normally takes around three years to build, but due to the urgent operational requirement from the Malaysian Coast Guard, we committed to delivering it in just 24 months.”
In parallel, DESAN has also commenced construction of a Hisar-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Turkish Navy. While officially designated as an OPV, Karagöz noted that the platform is closer to a corvette in capability. Based on the MİLGEM design, the vessel features configuration changes tailored to Turkish Navy requirements and is scheduled for delivery within 36 months.
DESAN has also achieved a significant milestone as the first private Turkish shipyard to carry out a naval modernization project for a NATO country, completing the program two months ahead of schedule. “They were very satisfied with the performance,” Karagöz said, underscoring DESAN’s growing credibility within allied naval markets.
With simultaneous domestic and international naval programs underway, DESAN continues to position itself as a reliable shipbuilder capable of delivering advanced military platforms under demanding timelines, reinforcing Turkey’s role in the global naval defense industry.