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It was revealed in January of 2016 that Ankara is readying itself for its first-ever, homegrown aircraft carrier as a power-projecting measure and to support growing military aspirations in the region. The warship is currently titled the TCG Anadolu ("Anatolia") and will most likely take on the form and function of conventionally-powered helicopter carriers / amphibious assault vessels already in service with nations such as France. It is projected that the Anadolu will enter formal service in or around 2021. The 1 billion dollar project is set to include Spanish shipbuilder Navantia. It is said that the idea for a Turkish carrier was being developed as early as 2006.

As an active member of NATO, Turkey is a recognized military power with good reason to invest in modernizing its forces and expanding its regional capabilities as there remains instability for its nearby neighbors that include Cyprus, Egypt, Syria, Iran and Iraq - some activities having already spilled across Turkish borders. The primary mission of the Anadolu will be to support amphibious operations by launching landing craft and aircraft simultaneously - akin in mission scope to the United States Navy's Landing Platform Dock (LPD) family of modern warships. The watercraft will take armored vehicles, troops and supplies from ship-to-shore while its air arm will feature a mixed stock of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing systems providing air cover.

As it stands, the vessel will sport a length of 740 feet and feature a displacement of 28,000 tons. It will provide facilities to house up to 1,400 personnel (including all crew, airmen and maintenance staff as well as combat infantry) and support dozens of wounded through full onboard medical services - adding a humanitarian support role to the vessel's inherent capabilities. The air arm is also set to include support for the incoming fleet of Lockheed F-35 "Lightning II" strike fighters (detailed elsewhere on this site) to serve alongside a new generation of indigenous Turkish attack helicopter (the "TAI T-129 ATAK"). There will also be inherent provisions for transporting and launching combat tanks (the Altay MBT is assumed) and watercraft, the latter to service special forces activities when needed.

The Turkish Navy follows Chinese aspirations to field a full-fledged aircraft carrier solution - the aircraft carrier remains the modern symbol of strength on the world's oceans. The United States showcases the largest fleet of aircraft carriers in the world as a result - many of its primary "supercarrier" types being nuclear powered and home to thousands of personnel.©MilitaryFactory.com

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