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Turkey Unveils World's First Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Ship
The Turkish navy has welcomed the TCG Anadolu, the world's first armed unmanned aerial vehicle (SİHA) ship, with a ceremony at Sedef Shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul. This marks a significant milestone for Turkey's military and naval forces, as the TCG Anadolu is the country's largest military ship and will increase its deterrence capabilities.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, the TCG Anadolu will be open to the public in Istanbul from 17-23 April 2023. This will provide visitors with an opportunity to explore the ship and see its impressive features up close.
The TCG Anadolu was launched in May 2019 and began sea acceptance tests in June 2022. The ship was built under the main contractorship of Sedef Shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul, with 131 subcontractors, universities, and research centers involved in the project. The ship has a local rate of approximately 70%, a testament to Turkey's commitment to domestic expertise and innovation.
With a length of 231 meters and a width of 32 meters, the TCG Anadolu has a maximum full load displacement of 27,436 tons and can operate at a maximum speed of at least 20.5 knots and an economic speed of 16 knots. The ship has the capacity to transfer a force of at least 1 battalion size in the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas to the crisis region with its own logistics support.
The ship is equipped with a range of weapon systems, a war management system, electronic warfare systems, infrared search and tracking system, electro-optical search system, laser warning system, torpedo defense system, radars, communication systems, navigation systems, and information distribution systems. All of which were developed with domestic and national resources.
One of the most unique features of the TCG Anadolu is its ability to serve as the world's first SİHA ship. The ship will facilitate take-off and landing of SİHAs that operate from the ship. For this purpose, Bayraktar TB3 SİHA with folding wings is being developed by Baykar, and other studies are underway to enable the combat unmanned aircraft system Bayraktar Kızılelma, developed by Baykar, and the Hürjet Light Attack Aircraft, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, to land and take off.
The ship can also be utilized for natural disaster relief missions when necessary. Thanks to its fully equipped hospital and operating room facilities, it will be able to provide medical support in natural disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and refugee evacuation operations.
The TCG Anadolu can carry a total of 94 vehicles, including 13 tanks, 27 armored amphibious assault vehicles (ZAHA), 6 armored personnel carriers, 33 miscellaneous vehicles, and 15 trailers on vehicle decks. Ten helicopters or 11 SİHAs can be deployed on the flight deck, and 19 helicopters or 30 SİHAs can be transported in the hangar. The ship will host 1223 personnel, ensuring sufficient support is available for all operations.
The TCG Anadolu Multi-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship Project was launched in 2015 by the Presidency of Defense Industries, in line with the needs of the Naval Forces Command and upon the instruction of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. With its groundbreaking capabilities, the TCG Anadolu positions Turkey as a leader in naval technology and reinforces its status as a significant player in the global defense market.
