Türkiye's largest ship, TCG Anadolu, was delivered to the Turkish Navy today (April 10, 2023) in a ceremony.
During the ceremony, the Head of the Defense Industry, İsmail Demir, the Minister of National Defense, Hulusi Akar, and the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, each delivered speeches, discussing the current state of the Turkish defense industry and emphasizing the importance of having a domestic and national defense industry.
Built at the Sedef shipyard in Istanbul, the ship will be able to accommodate 1443 personnel and has a platform from which unmanned aerial vehicles such as Bayraktar TB3 and KIZILELMA, as well as the Hürjet light jet aircraft, attack helicopters, and other multi-purpose military helicopters can land and take off.
The ship is 58 meters high, 231 meters long, 32 meters wide, and weighs 27.4 thousand tons. TCG Anadolu will be able to carry 4 mechanized, 2 air-cushioned, and 2 personnel landing craft, as well as aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Furthermore, the ship will have a hospital with a capacity of at least 30 beds and will be able to serve as a hospital ship in humanitarian aid operations.
Naval Staff Colonel Erhan Akbayrak has been appointed as the first commander of TCG Anadolu, Türkiye's largest ship. Akbayrak will successfully lead the ship on its maiden voyage with the naval forces.
What weapon systems and sensors does TCG Anadolu have?
The ship's armament includes 2 Phalanx Block 1B missiles, 5 ASELSAN STOP missiles, and 1 RAM missile. It also has 6 landing strips and 1 launch ramp. With a deck capacity of 10 helicopters and 4 unmanned aerial vehicles, the ship's hangar capacity is stated as 12 helicopters and 24 armed UAVs.
The TCG Anadolu is also equipped with various sensors and equipment, including Armelsan's ARAS-2023 diver detection sonar and Aselsan's CENK-S AESA radar. These sensors will enhance the ship's defense and reconnaissance capabilities, helping it to detect threats early.
From where will the TCG Anadolu ship be deployed?
It was announced that TCG Anadolu can reach a speed of 21 knots at full load and has a range of 9,000 nautical miles. TCG Anadolu, which will strengthen Türkiye's naval power, will undertake important missions in many seas such as the Aegean, Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Red Sea in the coming years.
