Turkey’s navy commissioned the country’s largest vessel and what it called the world’s first unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) carrier on April 10 during a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, and top military leaders.
The vessel, named TCG Anadolu, was built by Istanbul-based shipyard Sedef and can carry a range of equipment, including helicopters, drones, land vehicles, light warcraft, and personnel.
Addressing the delivery ceremony, Erdogan said that the ship is the world’s first warship in its field where UAVs can land and take off.
“The TCG Anadolu…is the world’s first warship in its field where UAVs can land and take off,” Erdogan said while emphasizing that the ship has the capabilities to conduct military operations in every corner of the world.
He told that 70% of the components used to build TCG Anadolu were produced in Turkey, adding that the government would “introduce more advanced technologies that are more domestic and national to our country.”
Savunma sanayimizin güçlenen Türkiye’nin yükselen yıldızı haline gelmesi öyle kolay olmadı.… pic.twitter.com/saVi0YGezD
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) April 10, 2023
“The Turkish defense industry has revolutionized in the last 20 years. It has not been easy for our defense industry to become the rising star of Türkiye. We have determined fully independent defense industry our target,” Erdoğan commented.
Bayraktar TB3, UCAV, Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma Unmanned Combat Aircraft and HÜRJET Light Attack Aircraft will be able to land and take off on this ship which was constructed by the joint collaboration of 131 sub-contractors, claimed the president.
The delivery of TCG Anadolu strengthened Turkey’s naval capabilities and made it one of the few nations in the world with a domestically-built aircraft carrier. Moreover, the move is expected to boost Turkey’s presence in the Mediterranean and Black Seas and enhance its military capability in the region.
Multipurpose warship for sea-to-land operations
As part of the Multi-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship Project, the TCG Anadolu vessel will have the capability to transport a battalion-sized force to a designated location with its own logistics support, without requiring assistance from a home base.
The vessel will be equipped with four mechanized, two Landing Craft Air-Cushion (LCAC), and two Personnel Landing Vehicles (LCVP), as well as aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Measuring 231 meters (or approximately 758 feet) in length and 32 meters (or 105 feet) in width, the ship has a full load displacement of around 27,000 tonnes.
Initially, the TCG Anadolu was planned to carry a fleet of helicopters and STOVL fighters like the F-35B. However, this plan was abandoned after the US removed Turkey from the F-35 program due to its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air missile defense systems in 2019.
