Can Turkiye build an Aircraft Carrier?
The Turkish Aircraft Carrier MUGEM is currently being designed in the Project Design Office. The Ship will expand the force's mission definitions and add new capabilities
With the escort Destroyers TCG BERK (D358) and TCG PEYK (D359), Turkiye attempted to build modern Warships with its own resources and capabilities for the first time in the Republic era. After the platforms, the issue of meeting the requirements of the Navy with domestic means remained on the dusty shelves. This long silence was broken after the millennium with the MilGem Project, never to return.
The studies that started with the Ada Class Corvettes continue today with the ISTIF Class Frigates
The next platform is the TF-2000 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers.
200 m TCG DERYA sea replenishment and combat support Ship is another success of the Turkish Naval Industry
The Turkish Naval Forces, which gained the capability to carry out a full amphibious operation with aviation elements with TCG ANADOLU has rolled up its sleeves for an Aircraft Carrier with the motto 'The future is in the skies'.
It was stated that an Aircraft Carrier is needed to increase the Turkish Navy's deterrence and effectiveness in overseas areas of interest with additional power capability. For this purpose, DPO continues its activities for Turkiye's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier. The office, which consists entirely of Turkish Navy personnel, has considerable experience, technical infrastructure, and know-how from past projects.
With the MUGEM studies coming to the agenda for the first time, it was a matter of curiosity whether such a ship could be built with domestic facilities. Turkiye has a deep-rooted tradition in shipbuilding. MilGem has extended these values to military platform design, development and construction. The necessary steps had recently been taken for the infrastructure required for the hull construction of the platform.
The construction of all the blocks under the responsibility of ASFAT under a single roof may make it difficult to meet the desired schedule in terms of time. The UK method for HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and HMS Prince of Wales (R09) are actually good examples for Turkiye. Assembling the blocks produced in different shipyards in the aforementioned ships in the final dock is a practical and, therefore, faster solution, which may also pave the way for reducing costs.
Aviation Capacity
Turkiye's indigenously developed MUGEM will be able to deploy a total of 50 Aircraft. The number of Hürjet, Anka-3, Kızılelma, TB-3, heavy transport, general purpose and anti-submarine warfare Helicopters can vary depending on the mission requirements. Air-air and air-ground missions can be performed at certain levels with the flexibility provided by Aircraft.
The Turkish Aircraft Carrier MUGEM is currently being designed in the Project Design Office.
turdef.com