Turkey Launches First Home-Built Amphibious Assault Ship, Equipped with Drones for Naval Operations
Date
4/11/2023 8:08:08 AM
(MENAFN) Turkey commissioned its first home-built amphibious assault ship on Monday, with the aim of extending its drone capabilities from land-based to naval operations. The launch of the 232-meter TCG Anadolu, Turkey's largest warship, is the latest display of home-grown defense equipment, which has also included prototypes of fighter jets and drones.
The Anadolu will be configured to carry an air wing made up mostly of armed drones. The vessel is designed to carry light aircraft such as helicopters and combat jets that can make short or vertical take-offs. It carries a crew of 1,400 people, plus combat vehicles and support units.
The commissioning of TCG Anadolu is part of Turkey's ongoing efforts to boost its military capabilities and become more self-reliant in defense production. Ankara has been investing heavily in its defense industry in recent years, with the goal of reducing its reliance on foreign suppliers and boosting its export potential.
The ship was built in Istanbul's Sedef Shipyard by a Turkish-Spanish consortium, based on the design of Spanish light aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I. Ankara's plan was to equip the ship with F-35B Lightning fighter jets, which can take off from short runways. But its plans changed after the US removed Turkey, a Nato ally, from its F-35 programme because of Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems in 2019. Turkey then converted TCG Anadolu into a drone carrier.
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