According to information published by NATO on June 9, 2022, NATO vessels from Italy and Turkey conducted training exercises with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Italian ITS Margottini and Turkish TCG Salihreis met the two Japanese ships, JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze in the Mediterranean Sea (Picture source: NATO)
The Italian Navy's ITS Margottini and the Turkish Navy's TCG Salihreis, both assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two, met with the JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze, including for personnel exchange and a maneuvering exercise.
Cooperation between NATO and Japan has grown broader and deeper over the years, including in the areas of maritime security, cyber defense, and non-proliferation.
About TCG Salihreis frigate
TCG Salihreis (F-246) is a Barbaros-class frigate of the Turkish Navy. Salihreis was launched on 26 September 1997 by Blohm+Voss in Hamburg and commissioned on 22 July 1998.
The Barbaros-class frigates are among the most modern frigates in the Turkish Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case, the MEKO 200 design.
The frigates have a length of 118.0 meters (387 ft), a beam of 14.8 meters (49 ft), and a draught of 4.25 meters. They can reach a top speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph).
The class is armed with two Mk 41 Mod 8 VLS for 64 RIM-162 ESSM Sea Sparrow PDMS or 16 Sea Sparrow PDMS, three Oerlikon Contravers Sea Zenith 25 mm CIWS gun systems, and two Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tube sets.
