Why Türkiye intensifying development of its naval fleet? PHOTO / VIDEO

In an article for Anadolu, senior analyst at the Hudson Institute and expert in open-source military intelligence and military sciences, Can Kasapoğlu, discussed projects aimed at strengthening Türkiye's Navy.

The military and operational situation in global maritime areas is becoming increasingly complex and hazardous, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media. 

In the Black Sea region of the Russia-Ukraine war, we have witnessed how strike drones and anti-ship missiles have made the situation more challenging for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. 

The asymmetric threat demonstrated by the Houthi forces in Yemen has proven capable of paralyzing international maritime trade, especially in key geopolitical chokepoints. A significant portion of global trade continues to rely on sea routes, and Turkish commercial vessels have also been periodically targeted by Houthi attacks. Dominance over the seas and transit hubs remains one of the most crucial aspects of global power projection. 

Amid these developments, Türkiye stands out among NATO member states for modernising its naval fleet. If the country successfully completes its projects to build 31 new warships, Ankara will possess one of the most formidable combat capabilities and potentially the largest fleet in the Mediterranean. 

Türkiye has leveraged its defense industry expertise gained from the creation of the Ada-class corvettes (a series of four ships) built under the MILGEM project for the Turkish Navy to expand into constructing İSTİF-class frigates, starting with the 5th platform. 

In April 2023, Türkiye commissioned the world's first aircraft carrier designed for combat drones, the TCG Anadolu. Following its launch, the construction of a second, larger aircraft carrier began. Four more Istanbul-class frigates are set to follow. 

Türkiye is significantly boosting its military capabilities with the development of the advanced domestically-produced Reis-class submarine, which features an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. Ankara is placing a high priority on unmanned systems as a key component of its naval aviation. 

The country's defence industry is well-suited to realize this vision, with a productive and widely established network for UAV production. In this context, Turkish aircraft carriers are expected to feature variants of the KIZILELMA and ANKA III unmanned combat aircraft. The HÜRJET aircraft is likely to be in a manned configuration. Furthermore, the installation of the domestic TB-3 drone on Türkiye’s aircraft carrier is also anticipated.

By Naila Huseynova