Turkey’s New Assault Carrier Will Transform Navy

The Turkish Navy’s first light aircraft carrier, TCG Anadolu, will be the flagship of a more powerful fleet. Her large helicopter and UCAV (uncrewed combat air vehicle) air wing, as well as amphibious capabilities, will provide new capabilities to NATO’s second largest military.

The Turkish Navy will be better equipped to for overseas operations. Turkey is currently involved in the conflict in Libya, as well as Syria. The carrier will join locally built MILGEM frigates, Type-214 AIP (air independent power) submarines and a new class of indigenous attack submarine known as MILDEN. A second assault carrier, TCG Trakya, is also planned.

Anadolu combines the features of an aircraft carrier with those of a landing ship. This is termed an LHD (landing helicopter dock) in defense circles. Beneath her hangar is a ‘well deck’ which can be flooded so that landing craft can enter. The well deck opens at at the stern. This is an increasingly popular combination and is typified by the U.S. Navy’s America Class assault carriers. LHDs can carry short take-off fight jets, and are commonly describes as light aircraft carriers.

She is currently being fitted out at the Sedef Shipyard in Istanbul. New photos show work on her island superstructure, which may have its radars mounted soon. She is expected to be commissioned into the Turkish Navy this year, earlier than originally planned.

The impressive ship, which was built locally, is 761 feet long and will displace over 27,000 tons. She is based on the Spanish Buque de Proyección Estratégica (Strategic Projection Vessel) design. This is also the basis of Australia’s new light carriers. In Spain the design is now known as the SPS Juan Carlos I Class.

Anadolu is expected to be equipped with the locally built T129 ATAK helicopter gunships and S-70 Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters, as well as heavy lift helicopters. Around 14 helicopters can be carried in total although the number may vary depending on operational needs.

Like the Spanish ship she is fitted with a ski-jump ramp at the front of the flight deck. This allows short take-off vertical-landing (STOVL) jet fighters to be operated. Turkey had been expected to deploy F-35 Lightning-II jets aboard, but the F-35B STOVL model was never ordered. Turkey’s participating in the F-35 program was anyway discontinued in July 2019. So she is unlikely to see jets unless they are cross-decked from NATO allies. Spain, Italy and Britain all have compatible jets.

For self defense she will be equipped with Phalanx 20mm close in weapon systems (CIWS) and RAM surface to air missiles. She will also mount the indigenous Aselsan 25mm STOP remote weapon station. And she may be fitted with Hizir torpedo countermeasures system developed by Aselsan. This is the surface vessel equivalent of the Zargana system fitted to Turkish and Pakistani submarines.

Turkey is not alone in the region acquiring assault carriers. Egypt recently received two Mistral Class LHDs from France. These are also not equipped with jets, but do carry an unlikely mix of American AH-64 Apache and Russian Ka-52 Nile Crocodile helicopter gunships.