MUGEM-class aircraft carrier

Class overview
NameMilli Uçak Gemisi (National Aircraft Carrier)
BuildersIstanbul Naval Shipyard
Operators Turkish Naval Forces
Preceded byAnadolu class
Building1[1][2]
General characteristics [3]
TypeAircraft carrier
Displacement60,000 t (59,000 long tons) full load
Length285 m (935 ft 0 in)
Beam72 m (236 ft 3 in)
Draft10.1 m (33 ft 2 in)
Propulsion4x LM2500 gas turbines
Speed
  • 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) (cruising)
  • 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)+ (maximum)
Range10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi)
Crew800+
Armament
Aircraft carriedUp to 50
Aviation facilitiesHangar for 30 aircraft

The MUGEM-class aircraft carrier is an initiative by the Turkish Navy to build a fully indigenous carrier. MUGEM stands for Milli Uçak Gemisi, meaning National Aircraft Carrier.[3][4] The construction of the first MUGEM-class aircraft carrier started on January 2, 2025.[1][2]

Development

Plans for a future Turkish aircraft carrier were first announced in October 2023 by the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as a cooperation between Spain and Turkey.[5]

On 25 April 2024 new details were released when press was welcomed at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard. Contrary to earlier news, it was revealed that the future aircraft carrier was not a development on the TCG Anadolu, but a completely new designed ship.[6]

A model of the ship was first shown at the 2024 SAHA EXPO, with further details being released, like propulsion, dimensions, design elements.[3]

Flight deck

MUGEM is being designed in a STOBAR configuration with a modular ski-jump at the bow. The Turkish defence industry is also underway at developing an indigenous catapult system. With the ski-jump being modular by design, this can be removed and the ship could be reconfigured as a CATOBAR carrier.[3]

Aircraft

The ship is planned to carry a mixture of different type of aircraft, both manned and unmanned.[3]

Potential aircraft include:

Construction

The construction of the first MUGEM-class aircraft carrier began on January 2, 2025.[1][2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Tayfun Ozberk (2 January 2025). "Turkish Navy starts construction of 3 major projects: MUGEM Aircraft Carrier, TF-2000 Destroyer, MILDEN Submarine". navalnews.com. Naval News.
  2. ^ a b c "Turkiye Begins MILDEN, TF-2000, and MUGEM Constructions | TURDEF". turdef.com. 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Turkish Navy Unveils MUGEM: A Fully Indigenous Aircraft Carrier". Naval News. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Turkey Releases Plans For Next Aircraft Carrier". The National Interest. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Erdogan announces agreement with Spain on aircraft carrier construction". Nordic Monitor. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  6. ^ "New details about Turkiye's future aircraft carrier". Naval News. Retrieved 30 October 2024.