TCG Anadolu is an amphibious assault ship of the Turkish Navy that can be configured as a light aircraft carrier. It is named after the peninsula of Anatolia which forms the majority of the land mass of Turkey. The construction works began on 30 April 2016 at the shipyard of Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. in Istanbul, with the keel being laid 7 February 2018, and is expected to be completed in 2020. The vessel is intended to meet the various needs and requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces, such as sustaining long-endurance, long-distance military combat or humanitarian relief operations; while acting as a command center and flagship for the Turkish Navy. The Sedef–Navantia consortium won the tender for the LPD/LHD project of the Turkish Navy and TCG Anadolu will use the same design as that of the Spanish ship SPS Juan Carlos I. All of the ship's weapons system will be procured by Turkish firms Aselsan and Havelsan. The ship will feature a Turkish combat management system, namely the GENESIS-ADVENT, which will be integrated by Aselsan and Havelsan. Aircraft Landing is assisted in all weather condition by Leonardo SPN-720 Precision Approach Radar. Navantia will provide design, technology transfer, equipment and technical assistance to Sedef Shipyard of Turkey for the design and development of TCG Anadolu, which is classified as a Light Aircraft Carrier/LHD by Turkish Lloyd. The ship has been designed to be capable of operating the F-35B STOVLstealthmultirole combat aircraft, however Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in July 2019 over security concerns.
History
Design and specifications
In December 2013, the Turkish LPD/LHD program was originally estimated to cost €375 million. According to the original plan, the Turkish Navy wanted a slightly shorter flight deck without the ski-jump ramp in front, to be optimized for use with only helicopters. However, the Turkish Navy later changed its plan and opted for a fully equipped flight deck with the ski-jump ramp in front, after deciding to purchase F-35BSTOVL aircraft. Turkey was a Level 3 partner in the Joint Strike Fighter program and the Turkish Air Force was intending to get the F-35A CTOL version until the USA blocked the export of the advanced fighter jet to Turkey. The Turkish version of the LHD will be capable of operating up to 12 helicopters or 12 F-35Bs operated by NATO allies in "light aircraft carrier" configuration. The dimensions of the final design are 231 meters in length, 32 meters beam, 6.8 meters draught, and 58 meters in height. Its displacement will be 24,660 tons or 27,079 tons. Its maximum speed will be 21.5 knots or 29 knots ; while its maximum range will be 9000 miles at economical speed. It will have a 5,440 m² flight deck and a 990 m² aviation hangar which can accommodate either 12 medium size helicopters or 8 CH-47F Chinookheavy-lift helicopters. Additionally, the ship will have a 1,880 m² light cargo garage for TEU containers and 27 Amphibious Assault Vehicles ; a 1,165 m² dock which can host four Landing Craft Mechanized or two Landing Craft Air Cushion, or two Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel ; and a 1,410 m² garage for heavy loads, which can host 29 Main Battle Tanks, Amphibious Assault Vehicles, and TEU containers. The ship will be protected by the ARAS-2023 diver detection sonar, and will have a crew consisting of 261 personnel: 30 officers, 49 NCOs, 59 leading seamen, and 123 ratings.
Construction
The final contract for the construction of the ship was signed with the Navantia-Sedef consortium on 7 May 2015. The commissioning of the ship is scheduled for 2021, and the estimated cost of the ship according to the final specifications is $1 billion. The construction works began on 30 April 2016 at the shipyard of Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. in Istanbul. The ship caught fire whilst in dry dock on the evening of 29 April 2019. On 21 November 2019, Turkish Defense Industry Minister Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir announced that TCG Anadolu would enter service one year ahead of schedule at the end 2020, instead of 2021.
TCG Trakya
The construction of an identical sister ship, to be named TCG Trakya, is currently being planned by the Turkish Navy. Trakya means Thrace in Turkish.
