More military vessels to be added to Maldives fleet: Defence chief

The chief of defence force, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, has said additional naval vessels will soon be procured to strengthen Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

Speaking at a ceremony in Hulhumale' to mark the handover of the TCG Volkan (P-343), donated by Turkey, Hilmy said president Mohamed Muizzu was fulfilling his pledge to expand military capacity.

“He will procure more naval vessels for the MNDF in the near future to ensure the ability to manage Maldivian seas. You will see this scenario very soon,” Hilmy said.

He added that President Muizzu’s efforts were aimed at enhancing the MNDF’s ability to carry out constitutional responsibilities and commitments under international maritime treaties.

The TCG Volkan, a Dogan-class missile boat, is the largest vessel in the MNDF fleet. Hilmy described it as a “completely different naval ship compared to the vessels currently used in the Coast Guard” in terms of firepower and capability.

Defence minister Ghassan Maumoon said the handover demonstrated the “red line” drawn by Muizzu in defending Maldivian independence.

The 45-year-old ship was reclassified as a test and training vessel last year after undergoing repairs. MNDF officers have trained in Turkey in recent months to operate it.

The Dogan-class vessels, designed by German company Lurssen Werft, were among the first Turkish ships fitted with Harpoon anti-ship missiles and were central to Turkey’s naval strength in the late 20th century.