The first Turkish aircraft carrier of its own construction is planned to be launched in 2027-2028. This was stated by Rear Admiral Erdinch Yetkin, head of the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, in an interview with CNN.
According to him, the construction of a new generation aircraft carrier started earlier this year. He also said that the transfer to the Turkish fleet is planned until 2030.
The model of the first Turkish aircraft carrier of its own design (MUGEM)
Naval News
The rear admiral noted that partner shipyards are involved in the production of the enlarged sections from which the aircraft carrier's hull is assembled, which should accelerate the pace of construction. He also noted that the flight deck ramp will be ready within a few months, which will allow the developers of TAI and Baykar aircraft to begin flight tests of their designs.
Erdinch Yetkin also noted that the new aircraft carrier will be noticeably larger than the Anadolu universal amphibious assault ship, which joined the Turkish Navy in 2023. If the length and displacement of the UDC are 230 meters and 27 thousand tons, respectively, then the aircraft carrier's parameters have been increased to 285 meters and 60 thousand tons. While the Anadolu is designed exclusively to accommodate unmanned aerial vehicles, the new ship will also be able to accommodate carrier-based fighters.
The project for the development of the national aircraft carrier MUGEM was first publicly presented in February 2024, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the design department of the Istanbul Naval Shipyard. In April 2024, journalists were given a tour of the shipyard, where representatives of the Turkish Navy shared news about the project, including details about the ship's design and capabilities.
The aircraft carrier is designed to accommodate manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. It is expected that 50 aircraft will be accommodated on board: the deck version of the light attack aircraft Hürjet, jet drones ANKA-III and KIZILELMA, as well as turboprop drones TB-3 Bayraktar. Of these, 30 units will be able to be stored in the hangar, and 20 on the flight deck. This number may increase if necessary.
A model of the first Turkish aircraft carrier of its own design
Navy Recognition
The design of the ship involves the use of a springboard for launching aircraft. In the future, the ship may additionally be equipped with an ejection launch system, which will allow not only light attack aircraft, but also heavier aircraft to be placed on board.
For its own safety, the aircraft carrier is proposed to be armed with a MIDLAS vertical missile launcher with 32 cells and four 35mm Gökdeniz melee artillery systems. In addition, six 25-mm remotely controlled STOP combat modules will provide short-range defense, mainly against asymmetric threats.
The ship's propulsion system includes four LM2500 gas turbines from the American company General Electric and two propellers with adjustable pitch for effective maneuverability. The claimed maximum speed is 25 knots, and the cruising range is 10,000 nautical miles.
