Page 3 - SAHA EXPO 2024 - DAY 2

Türkiye’s First Aircraft Carrier Taking Shape

Turkiye’s future aircraft carrier is taking
shape. The indigenous aircraft carrier named
Mugem is currently in its early stage of de-
velopment. “The aircraft carrier is in
its primary design stage and we
expect to finalise the design by

2030,” Lt. Sardar Ali Sari, Design Engineer
with the Turkish Naval Forces under the
Ministry of National Defence, told Daily
News on the sidelines of the SAHA Expo.

Several shipyards including the Istanbul
Naval Shipyard have been shortlisted by
the government to build the next generation
indigenous aircraft carrier.

“The initial plan outlines the de- The combination of manned and unmanned companies in its design and construction.
ployment of 50 aircraft on the aircraft including Bayraktar TB3, Bayraktar
Kizilelma and Anka III will give MUGEM
proposed 60,000 ton aircraft an edge,” he added. The weapon systems The new concept is to complement the
TCG Anadolu aircraft carrier already built
carrier, with 20 to be stationed include six National 25 mm STOP (stability according to the Turkish classification.
on the deck and 30 housed gun), four Gokdeniz air defence systems,
and 4x8 national Vertical Launching System
in the hangar. To build such a (MIDLAS), engineered by Roketsan. Turkiye claims that TCG Anadolu is the
huge ship, we need shipyards world’s first warship in its field where the
largest and heaviest helicopters and un-
of that size. The Istanbul Naval Aselsan-built Gokdeniz along with 35 mm manned aerial vehicles can land and take
Airburst Ammunition (ATOM) is a close-in
Shipyard, which has experience weapon system (CIWS) highly effective off.
in warship building, is preparing against anti-ship missiles. In addition to
itself to build the aircraft carrier. anti-ship missiles, Gokdeniz is also effec- The aircraft carrier is set to include two
tive against helicopters, fighters, UAVs and runways. The design is built on the Short
We will have a final decision on asymmetric surface naval threats Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR)
this soon,” Lt. Sari said. principle, as the ship will be conventionally
The aircraft carrier will not receive any powered with 24 MW x four Combined Gas
Istanbul Naval Shipyard has built the TCG support from any international partner or Turbine and Gas Turbine (COGAG) with a
İstanbul (F-515), the first ship in the Milgem range of 10000 nm at 14 knots. The ship can
İstif-Class frigate project, which is phase-II attain a maximum speed of over 25 knots.
of the Milgem Ada-Class corvette project.
MUGEM is being designed as a 285 m-long
“A capacity for 50 aircraft is planned, with 20 aircraft carrier, and can accommodate at
to be stationed on the deck and 30 housed least 800 personnel.
in the hangar. Among these aircraft are the
naval version of TAI’s Hurjet light attack air- “We expect the aircraft carrier
craft, TAI Anka-III unmanned fighter aircraft,
Baykar’s Bayraktar Kizilelma unmanned to be ready for sea trials in the
combat aircraft, and TB-3 UCAV. next 10-12 years ,” Lt Sari said.

Editorial Director Arun Sivasankaran Art Director
Vittorio Rossi Prudente arun.sivasankaran@gbp.com.sg Sudheesh Kularmunda
PUBLISHED BY vittorio.prudente@gbp.com.sg Atul Chandra sudheesh.kularmunda@gbp.com.sg
atul.chandra@gbp.com.sg
Editorial Team Sales Director
Jay Menon Yulian Ardiansyah Akshay Satyamurthy
jay.menon@gbp.com.sg yulian.ardiansyah@gbp.com.sg akshay.satyamurthy@gbp.com.sg

SAHA EXPO 2024 OCTOBER-23-2024 3