(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) –Earlier this year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the Mediterranean nation has begin the initiatives to construct a full-fledged aircraft carrier, further advancing the country’s ambition to become a regional maritime power.
Recently, the Design Project Office (DPO) at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, responsible for the design of Turkey’s first aircraft carrier has released new details on some of the technical specifications of the vessel, which will become Turkey’s largest warships in service when its is commissioned.
According to the DPO, the construction of Turkey’s inaugural aircraft carrier will be completed entirely using domestic resources and expertise, without foreign assistance.
This initiative underscores the country’s capability to undertake major naval projects independently.
Turkey’s proposed aircraft carrier will feature three runways, with two designated for takeoffs and one for landings.
Initially, it will not include a catapult system; instead, the DPO plans to equip it with a modular ramp system.
However, in the long term, Turkish engineers aim to develop a domestic catapult system to replace the initial modular ramp.
The DPO revealed that Turkey’s first aircraft carrier will accommodate up to 50 combat aircraft, with 20 stationed on the deck and 30 housed within the hangar.
The carrier is expected to deploy various aircraft including the “Hurjet” light combat aircraft and the “Anka-3” unmanned fighter developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
Additionally, it will carry the “Kizilelma” unmanned fighter and the “Bayraktar TB-3” Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) developed by Baykar Technology.
Preliminary reports also suggested that Turkey plans to develop a naval variant of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft “KAAN,” which will eventually see the 5th generation aircraft served aboard the carrier, although these details are still in the early stages.
Turkish defense media have indicated that the number of aircraft the carrier can operate will increase as the project progresses.
Currently, the carrier is set to be equipped with a MIDLAS 32-Cell VLS (Vertical Launching System) for air defense missiles and four Gökdeniz Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS) for self-defense.
In terms of technical specifications, the carrier will measure 285 meters in length and is expected to weigh around 60,000 tons, making it a medium-sized aircraft carrier comparable to the British’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
In contrast, common US aircraft carriers weigh up to 100,000 tons and powered by nuclear reactor.
Meanwhile, Turkish aircraft carrier will be powered by a Combined Gas Turbine and Gas Turbine (COGAG) engine, enabling it to reach speeds of 25 knots.
Following the successful development and commissioning of its largest warship and drone carrier, the TCG Anadolu, Turkey has decided to begin designing its own aircraft carrier which will enable the Mediterranean country to project its military power beyond its border.
For several years, President Erdogan has expressed his vision for Turkey to build its own aircraft carriers to fulfill its strategic needs in the volatile region.
This decision to start the design work on a domestic aircraft carrier was made following a meeting of the country’s Executive Committee on Defense Industry last January. — DSA