Image source: topwar.ru
Turkey is going to build an aircraft carrier, the ship project was presented at the defense exhibition SAHA EXPO 2024, held in Istanbul. This is reported by Navy Recognition.
Turkey intends to lay down and build a new aircraft carrier for its own fleet, twice the size of the L 400 Anadolu UDC introduced into the country's Navy, with a displacement of about 28 thousand tons and a length of 230 meters. The construction dates have not yet been determined, but the Turks have already presented the aircraft carrier project.
According to the data from the exhibition, Ankara independently developed the project of the aircraft carrier Milli Uçak Gemisi (MUGEM), it should become the largest ship in the entire history of shipbuilding in Turkey. The declared length is 285 meters, width is 72 meters, draft is 10.1 meters. The displacement is 60 thousand tons. It is assumed that the aircraft carrier will reach a speed of 25 knots and have a cruising range of 10,000 nautical miles at 14 knots. This will be provided by four LM2500 gas turbines from General Electric and two adjustable pitch propellers for effective maneuverability.
Image source: topwar.ru
The aircraft wing of the new aircraft carrier will include manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, it is planned to place up to 50 aircraft and drones. The aircraft carrier is designed in the STOBAR configuration ("short takeoff from a springboard, landing on an aerial finisher"). American aircraft carriers are built in the CATOBAR configuration (takeoffs using a catapult and landing using an aerial finisher).
Erdogan announced plans to lay down an aircraft carrier last year. Ankara is determined to build it in the near future.
