According to the Naval News resource, on January 2, 2025, a representative of the Turkish Ministry of Defense, Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, announced at a weekly press conference the ceremonies for the first steel cutting and the start of construction of three new types of Turkish-designed lead ships - the aircraft carrier of the MUGEM program, the TF-2000 AAW destroyer program and a non-nuclear submarine. MILDEN programs. According to the representative, the ceremonies of the first steel cutting for the aircraft carrier MUGEM and the destroyer TF-2000 were held at the naval shipyard in Istanbul (Istanbul Naval Shipyard), and the ceremony of the first steel cutting for the submarine MILDEN was held at the naval shipyard in Gölcük (Gölcük Naval Shipyard). A video released by the Turkish Ministry of Defense indicates that only officials of the Turkish Navy and representatives of shipyards attended the ceremonies.
A model of the promising Turkish aircraft carrier MUGEM (Milli Uçak Gemisi) at the exposition of the military-industrial exhibition SAHA EXPO 2024. Istanbul, October 2024 (c) Social media
The MUGEM aircraft carrier project (Milli Uçak Gemisi)
The project of the national Turkish aircraft carrier MUGEM (Milli Uçak Gemisi) was first presented publicly in February 2024, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the design office at the naval shipyard in Istanbul. Since then, this program has attracted widespread attention. In April 2024, journalists were given a then-undisclosed tour of the shipyard, during which representatives of the Turkish Navy shared news about the MUGEM project, including details about the ship's design and capabilities.
MUGEM has an optimized hull shape developed using multidimensional design and optimization programs, which is claimed to provide excellent seaworthiness, stability and high maneuverability. These capabilities have been proven through internal simulation applications, making the aircraft carrier a reliable ship in a variety of marine environments. The bow design, in particular, reduces fuel consumption by 1.5% and reduces underwater noise levels, increasing both the efficiency and stealth of the ship.
The aircraft carrier will have three runways - two for take-off and one for landing. Initially, the aircraft carrier will be built without an ejection system, instead a modular ramp will be used for takeoff. However, Turkish engineers are already working on their own ejection system, which is expected to replace the modular ramp in the future, further enhancing the aircraft carrier's operational capabilities.
It is expected that the aircraft carrier will accommodate up to 50 aircraft, including manned and unmanned vehicles. The current plan provides for the placement of 20 aircraft on the deck and 30 in the hangar. Some of the aircraft planned for use on ships include the marine version of the TAI Hurjet light attack aircraft, the TAI ANKA-III unmanned fighter aircraft, the Baykar Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned fighter aircraft and the Bayraktar TB3 attack unmanned aerial vehicle. Representatives of the Turkish military department said that the capacity of the aircraft carrier could increase as the project progresses, and negotiations with Turkish defense companies TAI and Baykar [on the creation of new aircraft] are already underway.
For self-defense, the MUGEM aircraft carrier will be armed with a 32-charge (8x4) vertical MIDLAS anti-aircraft missile launcher and four 35mm Gökdeniz anti-aircraft artillery systems. In addition, six 25-mm Aselsan STOP remote-controlled artillery units will provide short-range defense, mainly against symmetrical threats.
The aircraft carrier MUGEM is designed to become the most powerful ship of the Turkish Navy and has the following technical characteristics:
Length: 285 meters
Width: 72 meters
Draft: 10.1 meters
Displacement: 60,000 tons
Maximum speed: over 25 knots
Cruising speed: 14 knots
Range: 10,000 miles at cruising speed
Main power plant: Combined Gas Turbine Unit (COGAG) with four LM2500 gas turbines, providing a total capacity of 23 MW each.
Crew: accommodation for at least 800 people.
Aircraft capacity: 50 manned/unmanned aircraft
ASBU: ADVENT CMS
TF-2000 Air Defense destroyer Project
As the final stage of the Turkish MILGEM program, the Turkish Navy initiated the TF-2000 project in July 2017 in response to the need for air defense destroyers. The TF-2000 destroyers will be capable of detecting guided missiles and short/medium/long range ballistic missiles at low/medium/high altitudes, as well as destroying non-ballistic missiles.
The TF-2000 destroyers are expected to have a displacement of 8,300 tons, making them the largest ships built under the MILGEM program. The destroyers will have a total length of 149 meters, a width of 21.5 meters and a draft of 5.75 meters. The main power plant will include two gas turbine and two diesel engines (CODOG configuration), providing a maximum speed of over 26 knots.
The TF-2000 destroyer will be equipped with a powerful weapon system, which will ensure its versatility and combat effectiveness in various operational scenarios. Its main weapon will be a 127-mm artillery mount for hitting surface and ground targets. The destroyer will also be equipped with a 96-charge (32+64) Turkish MIDLAS universal vertical launcher capable of launching various modern missiles.
Among the missiles that can be used from MIDLAS are Turkish anti-aircraft guided missiles, potentially from the SIPER anti-aircraft missile system, and the long-awaited GEZGIN cruise missiles for hitting ground targets. In addition, the destroyer will carry 16 ATMACA anti-ship missiles to engage marine and coastal targets.
For self-defense, the destroyer will be equipped with short-range anti-aircraft missile systems (probably Levent from Roketsan or Göksur from Aselsan), as well as the 35mm Gökdeniz anti-aircraft artillery system. The TF-2000 is also expected to be armed with 324mm anti-submarine torpedoes, probably Aselsan ORKA. Complementing these systems will be stabilized remotely controlled artillery combat modules such as Aselsan STAMP and/or STOP, offering flexible and precise firepower for a variety of scenarios.
The main radar for detecting aerial targets will be CAFRAD with fixed AFAR antennas based on gallium nitride, capable of tracking more than 2,000 contacts within a radius of 450 km. The destroyer will also be equipped with an LPI navigation radar, electro-optical fire control stations, and an integrated sonar system, including a bow and towed gas (Aselsan Dufas), combined with the ADVENT automated control system.
MILDEN (Milli Denizaltı) non-nuclear submarine Project
The MILDEN project, aimed at designing and building a new type of submarine, is an ambitious initiative of the Turkish military-industrial complex, which is also developing a complex of electrical, communication and detection technologies, as well as propulsion systems and weapons systems that will be installed on the submarine.
The National Submarine Development Program, which is coordinated by the command of the Turkish Naval Research Center, was launched in March 2012. After completing the conceptual design phase last year, construction of the lead ship began on January 2, 2025, as planned. The first submarine of the new type is to be handed over to the Turkish Navy in the first half of the 2030s.
The design work on the MILDEN project is carried out by the MILDEN Design Office at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard. Currently, this design bureau employs 28 people (23 engineers and five technical designers).
The MILDEN platform is expected to be a major achievement for the Turkish defense industry, demonstrating advanced technologies along with its own Turkish capabilities. The submarine, which is more than 80 meters long, will have a surface displacement of about 2,700 tons, making it the largest in the Turkish Navy.
The submarine will be equipped with an air-independent power plant, which will significantly increase its stealth and range. MILDEN will also be equipped with a number of advanced Turkish-designed weapons systems, including the 533mm AKYA torpedo, the ATMACA anti-ship missile, and the GEZGIN ground-launched cruise missile currently under development by Roketsan.
Model and design images of the promising Turkish aircraft carrier MUGEM (Milli Uçak Gemisi) (c) SSB
Design images of a promising Turkish destroyer of the TF-2000 (c) project of the Turkish Navy
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A model of the promising Turkish large non-nuclear submarine MILDEN (Milli Denizaltı) (c) www.navalnews.com
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