Turkey Modernizes Mediterranean Base to Accommodate Aircraft Carriers

The Turkish Navy is investing in expanding its Mediterranean military base to accommodate large ships, including aircraft carriers.

The Turkish Century think tank reported on this.

The 350 million euro investment package will expand port infrastructure and turn the Aksaz naval base into a hub for large ships of the Turkish fleet.

First of all, among the large ships, we are talking about the existing universal amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu and the support ship TCG Derya.

The naval base is the newest facility of the Turkish Navy, which was commissioned in 1992. A detailed project is currently being prepared along with funding to expand the docks and piers.

“The most important and largest project we are currently working on is the construction of docks, piers and coastal amenities for Anadolu TCG, AIP submarines and other naval elements in Aksaz,” said Rear Admiral Tayfun Öznel, Chief of Engineering, Turkish Navy Logistics Directorate.

The Admiral noted that the Turkish Navy was implementing its projects not only at the expense of national resources, but also with the help of NATO resources as part of the Alliance’s capacity building activities.

It is worth noting that the Turkish Navy is seeking to build an ocean fleet that will enable the country to form aircraft carrier formations and engage them in foreign operations in any part of the world.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Turkish Naval Forces had launched a program to strengthen the country’s fleet by simultaneously constructing an aircraft carrier, a destroyer, and a submarine.

Steel cutting for the new ships took place at two shipyards: the submarine at the Gölcük shipyard and the destroyer and aircraft carrier at the Istanbul shipyard.

Thus, this ceremony launched the construction of the MUGEM project aircraft carrier, which is Turkey’s national effort to develop and build the first Turkish aircraft carrier.

The Istanbul shipyard also hosted a steel-cutting ceremony for the future TF-2000 project missile destroyer. In total, it is planned to build eight destroyers of this type, which will become a strong support for the surface component of the Turkish fleet.