Türkiye is gearing up for its largest-ever domestic aircraft carrier, a project led by the Directorate of Design Project Office (DPO) of the Turkish Naval Forces Command (DzKK).
This national aircraft carrier is set to surpass the TCG Anadolu, a landing helicopter dock (LHD)-type multipurpose amphibious assault ship commissioned in April 2023, currently serving as the navy's flagship.
Situated at the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) Istanbul Shipyard Command, the DPO opened its doors to the press Wednesday, offering insights into the ongoing work at the shipyard.
The TCG Anadolu, modeled after Spain’s Juan Carlos I, boasts 70% domestic production. However, with a team of 110 individuals at the DPO, efforts are underway to increase the domestic production ratio for the new national aircraft carrier.
The TCG Anadolu, measuring 231 meters (758 feet) in length, 32 meters in width, and with a displacement of 27,436 tons, was ordered in 2015 and launched in April 2019. Its inauguration, initially planned for 2021, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the conceptual design phase, the new aircraft carrier is envisioned to accommodate both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles of domestic origin. Collaboration with industry leaders such as Baykar and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is underway to realize this objective.
Established in 1997 to undertake the MILGEM (National Ship) project, the DPO has been instrumental in various naval projects, including the development of the ADA-class corvettes, TCG Heybeliada, TCG Büyükada, TCG Burgazada, TCG Kınalıada and the I-class frigate, Istanbul Frigate.
Originally intended to support helicopters and short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighters like the F-35B variant, the role of the TCG Anadolu evolved following Türkiye’s unilateral expulsion from the F-35 program due to the acquisition of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems in 2019.
Consequently, the vessel is being adapted to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), and unmanned fighter jets, with an anticipated complement of Bayraktar TB3s among others, developed by Turkish drone magnate Baykar.
