Turkey aims to begin sea trials of its first homegrown aircraft carrier soon, with plans to commission the ship into service before the end of the decade, a senior defense official has said.
Newsweek has reached out to Turkey’s Defense Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
A domestically built carrier would give Turkey blue-water capability for the first time, extending its reach in the Mediterranean and Black Sea and enhancing its leverage against Greece, Israel and even Russia.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has championed the country’s drive for defense self-reliance and export expansion. Turkey’s growing capabilities could bolster NATO naval operations, but they also underscore Ankara’s ability to pursue its own strategic agenda.
Ozan Guzelce/ dia images/Getty Images
What To Know
Unlike traditional carriers, Turkey’s domestically built Mugem is designed as a drone carrier with a ski-jump ramp, which the state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries and the privately run Baykar, the country’s leading drone exporter, could begin testing in the coming months.
Istanbul Naval Shipyard Commander Rear Admiral Recep Erdinc Yetkin gave the update in an interview earlier this week with CNN Turkey.
The Turkish navy current operates the indigenous drone carrier TCG Anadolu as part of its fleet.
Tümamiral Recep Erdinç Yetkin müjdeyi duyurdu: “Uçak gemimiz 2028’de hazır!”.
The Turkish Defense Ministry unveiled the warship for the first time last year and kicked off construction in January. Turkey is developing a range of advanced military platforms, including the TF-class submarine, the domestically built “Steel Dome” air-defense system and the Kaan fighter jet.
Turkey’s expanding defense capabilities come amid an escalating rivalry with Israel, with whom it cut trade ties on Friday over the worsening war in Gaza.
What People Are Saying
Rear Admiral Erdinc Yetkin, commander of Istanbul Naval Shipyard, told CNN Turkey: “We have started the construction of the National Aircraft Carrier. It will be 285 meters (935 feet) long and 60,000 tons. Anadolu was 230 meters (755 feet) and 27,000 tons. [UAVs] Kizilelma, TB3, Anka, and TB2 will be able to take off and land on it.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “What determines the thin line between being on the menu and being at the table is one’s air defense and assault capabilities. With this understanding, we are making significant progress in the construction and development process that we launched a long while ago. We have covered a great distance in a short span of time despite all the obstacles. Today’s deliveries are the most concrete proof that our struggle has not been in vain.”
What Happens Next
Yetkin said the aircraft carrier will be ready in 2028.
