Turkey-gifted military vessel arrives in Maldives
Turkey gifted a TCG Volkan warship to the Maldives to strengthen maritime defense system
TCG Volkan (P-343) donated to Maldives by the government of Turkey
The military vessel that the government of Turkey gifted to the Maldives has been brought to the island nation.
The Turkish government reached the decision to gift a military vessel to the Maldives in April 2025. The vessel is currently docked at the Commercial Harbor in Malé City. It was transported on a 'roll-on/roll-off' ship designed for carrying such vessels from one place to another. The vessel was brought after completing its refitting and training the military personnel.
The government of Turkey gifted the TCG Volkan (P-343) warship to the Maldives. This vessel is a Doğan-class fast attack craft. The vessel was gifted under an agreement signed between the two countries to strengthen the Maldives' maritime defense system, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defense.
As the vessel has been brought to the Maldives, a team from the Turkish Navy is set to activate the missile boat and provide two weeks of operational training to the Maldivian military.
TCG Volkan was first used by the Turkish Naval Forces in 1981. However, in 2024, it was converted into a test and training vessel. Doğan-class vessels are designed by the German company Lürssen Werft and are equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Claiming to enhance the capabilities of the Maldivian military, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's government has also purchased six "Bayraktar TB2" drones from Turkey. Several members of the public have been noting that these drones, which cost several hundred thousand USD, are not being utilized.
During President Muizzu's visit to Turkey in November 2023, he visited some Turkish companies that manufacture military equipment as well.
