Turkish Assault Ship TCG Anadolu Ready To Enter Service: First In The World With Drone Base, Able To Transport Tanks To LCM

Turkish TCG Anadolu (L-400) warship. (Source: SSB via Daily Sabah)

JAKARTA - Turkey's multi-purpose amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu (L400) is ready to be delivered to the country's navy later this year.

Showed at the shipyard in Tuzla Istanbul, TCG Anadolu is one of the platforms that can carry naval power. This landing helicopter dock (LHD) is based on the Spanish LHD Juan Carlos.

The final test is currently underway. TCG Anadolu was launched in 2015 under the leadership of the Presidency of the Defense Industry (SSB).

"In the scope of the project, the power of at least one battalion in the Aegean, Mediterranean and the Black Sea will be able to be moved to crisis areas with its own logistical support, without the need for base support," said Ismail Demir, head of SSB, as reported by Daily Sabah September 18.

Demir further explained that the LHD project, which began in 2015, will soon be completed, the domestic ship production rate is around 70 percent and they work with a very broad sub-loader chain.

"This will be the largest warship in our country and there are only 12 countries in the world that have ships of this size. Our Navy will strengthen its power with this ship," explained Demir.

Demir also emphasized that the weapons, radar and electronic warfare systems and the avionic systems on board were all developed by the Turkish defense industry with national resources.

Demir said the ship, which will be part of the NATO alliance, would be the first in the world to deploy with unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) or drones, to land and take off from it.

For this reason, work with the Turkish drone king Baykar is underway. The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, which is currently being developed at the Baykar facility, is a variant of the famous Bayraktar TB2 and is planned to become a flagship ship.

Demir noted that in the coming period, not only the UCAV but also domestic aircraft such as Kızılma and Hürjet, will also be one of the aircraft to be deployed at TCG Anadolu.

Kızılelma, the name given to the National Non-Crewed Fighter Vehicle (MIUS) System, is preparing to make its first flight. Meanwhile, Hürjet is an advanced training jet and light attack aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

To complete it, the AH-1W SuperCobra helicopters and multi-purpose helicopters will also be deployed at TCG Anadolu.

It is known, the launch pad built on the Anadolu deck provides a vertical landing for aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin's F-35B STOVL (Short Take-Off / Vertical Landing).

With a length of 231 meters (758 feet) and a height of 58 meters, TCG Anadolu weighs 27.4 tons. This giant platform is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 21 knots with full payloads, housing elements of land, air, and sea.

According to information provided, the water-capable pool in the ship will allow four LCM ships (landing craft mechanisms), each carrying one tank.

TCG Anadolu can carry a total of 94 vehicles, including 13 tanks, 27 armored amphibious assault vehicles, six armored personnel (APC) carriers 33 other types of vehicles and 15 trailers.

A total of 10 helicopters or 50 UCAVs can be deployed on flight decks, and this number can reach up to 100 depending on the configuration.

Later, the ship will have a transport capacity of 1,223 personnel. For health facilities, this ship has complete hospital facilities and two operating rooms in it.