The Turkish Navy is set to receive its new flagship, the Anadolu LHD, which is expected to enter its inventory next week. This highly advanced amphibious assault ship, built by the Turkish defense industry in collaboration with Spain’s Navantia, will provide the Turkish Navy with unprecedented capabilities for projecting force and providing humanitarian aid in a variety of scenarios. With its array of weapons and aircraft, the Anadolu is poised to become a vital tool for Turkey’s military as it seeks to modernize and expand its naval capabilities in a rapidly changing global security environment.
Turkey is expected to receive its largest warship yet, the Anadolu, on Monday. The head of Turkey’s top defense body, Ismail Demir, believes this delivery is a significant milestone for the country’s defense industry. Additionally, the signing ceremony for constructing three new frigates under the National Ship (MILGEM) project further reinforces the country’s growing naval strength.
The MILGEM project was launched in 2000 to enable Turkey to locally design and manufacture a new line of multi-purpose frigates and corvettes to replace the old ones. Following the commissioning of four corvettes and one frigate, the Istanbul frigate, the construction of three new I-class frigates has been initiated under the project.
The I-class frigates, jointly built by the Anadolu, Sedef, Sefine shipyards, and the Joint Venture Commercial Enterprise of TAIS and state-run defense firm STM, will be manufactured simultaneously.
Modelled on the Spanish LHD Juan Carlos, Anadolu is a landing helicopter dock (LHD) that can host a battalion team with flight and command personnel. Its flight deck is not big enough for classic warplanes to take off and land, however, it can accommodate up to six medium-load transport, general-purpose, or assault helicopters and two heavy cargo transport helicopter landing platforms.
The Anadolu’s lightweight deck can take up to 30 wheeled vehicles, including armored personnel carriers and amphibious vehicles, as well as accommodate a minimum of 12 medium-load helicopters in its hangar. The number of helicopters the Anadolu can carry aboard can be increased depending on the vessel’s mission. The carrier’s heavy vehicle deck, located above the pool, supports the transportation of heavy vehicles like tanks and other heavy armored vehicles as required, including almost 45 tanks depending on mission and positioning.
The launchpad of the Anadolu’s deck can provide vertical landing and take-off space for aircraft such as Lockheed Martin’s Short Take-Off/Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35Bs. However, this created a deadlock issue between the United States and Turkey. Then-President Donald Trump announced Turkey’s expulsion from the joint F-35 program due to disputes over Washington and Ankara’s differences.
However, the Anadolu is globally significant as it allows unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to land and take off, which are specifically designed for the Turkish defense industry. The Bayraktar TB3, a short-runway version of Baykar’s world-class drone, Bayraktar TB2, is expected to be integrated into the Anadolu’s systems and ready this year.
The Bayraktar TB3 is scheduled to make its public debut at the country’s largest aviation, space, and technology festival, Teknofest, taking place later in April.
In conclusion, Turkey’s delivery of the Anadolu is a significant moment for the country’s defense industry, particularly as it reinforces the country’s growing naval power. The MILGEM project, including the construction of three new frigates and the Anadolu, underlines Turkey’s progress in developing its defense industry capability further. Ultimately, this speaks volumes about the country’s ability and capacity to promote innovation in its defense sector.
