Erdogan: Turkey will produce own aircraft carrier soon

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Saturday that Turkey would produce its own aircraft carrier “soon”.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, Erdogan commented that Turkey would face no obstacles in constructing an aircraft carrier domestically as the nation’s defense industry has grown more and more independent from foreign technology and imports.

The president added that the carrier would most likely be built after the Turkish amphibious assault ship is completed.

Based on the Spanish Navy’s landing helicopter dock (LHD) Juan Carlos I and designed by Navantia, the Turkish version of the ship will be named TCG Anadolu and have the pennant number L-408.

First steel on the ship, which will be registered as a light aircraft carrier by the Turkish Lloyd, was cut in May 2016 while delivery is scheduled for 2021.