Page 22 - ADT AUGUST 2021 Online Magazine

An Unstoppable [ NAVY ]

Force

TURKEY GROWS INTO A MAJOR MARITIME defence industry has been the ability to bounce
FORCE, THANKS TO THE RAPID STRIDES MADE back from adversity. Reacting quickly to the
BY THE DOMESTIC DEFENCE INDUSTRY United States’ decision to remove it from the
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project because of
its purchase of the S-400 air defense system
Arun Sivasankaran from Russia, Turkey is currently revising plans
and developing new solutions for Anadolu. As
the vessel was built to operate the F-35 JSF
It may not be attracting headlines like some of the major military and is not designed for conventional landing of
powers, but Turkey has in recent years upgraded its maritime force fixed-wing aircraft, the navy is said to be con-
to such as extent that it is regarded as the strongest in the region. sidering the transformation of the vessel into
The growing prowess of the country’s defence industry has also a carrier ship for attack drones. According to
attracted international attention. Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of drone-maker Baykar,
the company is developing a new unmanned
According to the Maritime Policy & Strategy Research Center of combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that will success-
Israel’s Haifa University, Turkey has in recent years enhanced its fully land and take off on LHD Anadolu. The
naval power to such an extent that the Turkish Naval Forces should navy’s plan is to ensure that at least 10 armed
be considered a green-water Navy, one that can operate far beyond drones can be simultaneously used in opera-
the country’s shores. tions from the carrier ship.

Turkey’s work on upgrading its submarine fleet, and the potential The plan to use armed drones on the assault
threat it poses to Israel, finds a mention in the report that also ship is not set in stone, if one is to go by com-
highlights the growing strike force and intervention capacity of the ments in April by Ismail Demir, Turkey’s Head
Turkish Naval Forces. The construction of Anadolu, an amphibious of Defence Industry Presidency. According to
assault ship that can serve as a light aircraft carrier, will offer Turkey Demir, the navy is also studying the feasibility
unprecedented strike capabilities in the Black Sea and Eastern of deploying “Hurjet,” an indigenous aircraft
Mediterranean, according to the report. that was designed as a jet trainer aircraft but
can carry missiles and other munitions, on LHD
“In addition, Turkey produces its own weapons and military gear, Anadolu. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI),
including cruise missiles with a range of hundreds of kilometers. which makes the Hürjet, is already in discus-
Overall, Ankara has been shifting to self-production of naval assets sions with the navy on the issue.
and relies on German expertise to build submarines and other
vessels,” the report said.
“WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
Turning Crisis into Opportunity ON MAKING CHANGES IN THE
One of the standout features of the Turkish navy and the local DESIGN OF HÜRJET TO OPERATE

22 | August 2021 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT