To expand its drone capabilities beyond land-based to maritime operations amid rising regional tensions brought on by the war raging in Ukraine on the other side of the Black Sea, Turkey launched its first amphibious assault ship on Monday.
Only light aircraft, primarily helicopters and jets that can take off from shorter runways, can be handled by the TCG Anadolu. Its dimensions are 232 metres long by 32 metres broad, and it can transport 1,400 people, or a battalion of infantry, together with combat vehicles and support groups for use in foreign operations.
To expand its drone capabilities beyond land-based to maritime operations amid rising regional tensions brought on by the war raging in Ukraine on the other side of the Black Sea, Turkey launched its first amphibious assault ship on Monday.
Only light aircraft, primarily helicopters and jets that can take off from shorter runways, can be handled by the TCG Anadolu. Its dimensions are 232 metres long by 32 metres broad, and it can transport 1,400 people, or a battalion of infantry, together with combat vehicles and support groups for use in foreign operations.
Based on the design of the Spanish light aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I, a Turkish-Spanish collaboration constructed the amphibious assault ship in Istanbul’s Sedef Shipyard.
Initially, Ankara intended to use its largest battleship to deploy F-35 B-model fighter fighters, which can take off from shorter runways.
Nevertheless, it had to alter its plans after the US dropped Turkey, a NATO partner, from the F-35 programme in 2019 due to Ankara’s acquisition of Russian S-400 defence systems. TCG Anadolu was later transformed into a drone carrier by Turkey.
In addition to helicopters, Turkey plans to deploy on the new carrier Bayraktar TB3 and Kizilelma uncrewed aerial combat vehicles – both under production by Turkish defence firm Baykar – as well as Hurjet light attack aircraft being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
TCG Anadolu will be the world’s first amphibious assault ship whose fleet is mostly armed drones once the plan is implemented.
Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army, shares a border with conflict-ridden Syria and Iraq and has a long Mediterranean and Black Sea coastline.
