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The Turkish Naval Forces held a progress meeting on the National Aircraft Carrier, also known as the MUGEM project, at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command, while testing began on the second Hisar-class patrol vessel.
Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu chaired the National Aircraft Carrier progress meeting at Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command on Tuesday.
The meeting addressed recent developments in ship construction, technical details and planning for the test process. The meeting also emphasized Türkiye's determination to increase its naval power.
The Naval Forces Command started the machinery of Kochisar, the second ship of the Hisar-class Offshore Seas Patrol (OPV) ships, for the first time and began test activities.
At the National Aircraft Carrier Forum held during Teknofest Blue Homeland in August, four Turkish Naval Forces personnel assigned to the project discussed the aircraft carrier's technical specifications.
During that event, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan performed the final module welding of the test ramp for the National Aircraft Carrier being built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command under Teknofest Blue Homeland.
Engineering Lt. Aykut Demirezen, speaking at the forum, noted that they began by determining the configuration of the propulsion system, a very important element.
Demirezen said they examined propulsion systems of aircraft carriers serving in world navies from external sources.
"We selected our main engines according to the speed and 10,000 nautical mile cruise policy requirements requested by our Movement Directorate and determined the most suitable main engine configuration," Demirezen said.
Engineering Lt. Ebubekir Er noted back then that his primary task was to determine the combat systems of the national aircraft carrier and make the settlement design.
Er said radars are elements that serve as the eyes and ears of naval platforms, saying, "For this reason, we placed CAFRAD, developed with national means with a range of 750 kilometers, which does not exist in any aircraft carrier, on the national aircraft carrier."
"We placed a 32-cell national vertical launch system on the national aircraft carrier that can launch guided missiles to provide the aircraft carrier's layered air defense against all kinds of aircraft and guided missiles to be launched from aircraft, and can also launch guided missiles for offensive purposes," Er said.
The National Aircraft Carrier will carry Bayraktar TB3, ANKA 3, Hurjet and Kizilelma aircraft. It will have a crew of 400-500 personnel and Level-2 medical facilities.
The carrier will have a 10,000 nautical miles range, unlimited operation in sea conditions, and at least 60 days of operational capacity without supplies.
The main propulsion system will use a combined gas turbine and gas turbine (COGAG) configuration with four gas turbines and two controllable pitch propellers.
The carrier will be 285 meters long, with a displacement of 60,000 tons and a maximum speed of 25 knots. It will use short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) takeoff and landing.
Kochisar, the second of the Hisar-class Offshore Seas Patrol Ships, was laid down Dec. 10, 2022, and launched Sept. 23, 2023, along with the class's first ship Akhisar.
Construction activities for the Hisar-class Offshore Seas Patrol Ships are being carried out at Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command under ASFAT main contractorship to respond to Türkiye's Open Seas Patrol Ship needs in the shortest time and most cost-effective way.
The project aims to produce 10 ships. The first two ships, Akhisar and Kochisar, were launched Sept. 23, 2023, at an advanced level of equipment just 17 months after the first steel cutting.
Launching two ships at the same shipyard in such a short time and at this level is a first for the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB).
The ships will perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; search and rescue; counterterrorism; maritime control operations; and naval special operations as primary missions.
Secondary missions will include naval air operations, electronic and acoustic warfare, land bombardment, defense against asymmetric threats, protection of maritime transport, support within amphibious operations and training activities.
The ships are being designed and produced based on the exterior design of ADA-class Corvettes, targeting the most advanced technologies of that class to meet the Turkish Naval Forces' needs.
The project uses a "Ready In Place" modular ship concept for flexibility in combat capability, with an electric propulsion alternative in the main propulsion system for advanced efficiency. The interior layout addresses crew needs and ergonomic requirements most suitably.
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