Last year, the Turkish government held consultations with the UK on the purchase of a new or used aircraft carrier, but the negotiations were not successful, according to the information and analytical portal Middle East Eye (MEE, headquartered in London) with reference to their sources.
"Two people familiar with the deal said that the Turkish government requested the purchase of a new Queen Elizabeth - class aircraft carrier or a decommissioned one, but British officials rejected this request," the MEE said in a statement.
It is claimed that the British offered to " sell the project of their aircraft carrier and provide technical support for its construction in Turkey." However, after consultations with the government of Boris Johnson's government in the middle East countries-members of NATO decided to build their own ship of this class, not buying it, said the sources.
Turkey is building the light aircraft carrier TCG Anadolu, which is based on the Spanish multi-purpose landing ship SPS Juan Carlos I (L-61). TCG Anadolu is expected to pass its first tests this year. The warship is supposed to be equipped with the ability to receive aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing, such as the F-35. However, after the exclusion of Turkey from the US program for the creation of fifth-generation F-35 fighters in 2019 in connection with Ankara's acquisition of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, it is unclear whether TCG Anadolu will be able to accept any military aircraft, Eadaily notes, referring to MEE.
A spokesperson for the UK Department of Trade did not deny or confirm that the consultation had taken place.
