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The commander of the Turkish Navy has announced that a launch date has been set for Turkey’s new aircraft carrier. Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu said the vessel will be launched on 27 September 2027. He also confirmed that the design will support unmanned combat aircraft as well as unmanned naval vehicles.
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Turkey plans to launch MUGEM in September 2027
Tatlıoğlu stated that construction of MUGEM is progressing according to schedule. The newly announced date refines plans released in 2025, when the Turkish Navy had anticipated a launch between 2027 and 2028.
The aircraft carrier is planned to measure 285 metres in length and displace around 60,000 tonnes. These figures exceed those of the Anadolu amphibious assault ship, which is 230 metres long and displaces roughly 27,000 tonnes. Experience gained through that programme is also helping to shape development of the new vessel.
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The Turkish Navy began physical construction of MUGEM after completing several design and analysis stages. In June 2026, Turkish authorities displayed steel blocks being assembled at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard. Under the schedule presented at the time, the aircraft carrier is expected to be delivered in 2032.
MUGEM will operate unmanned aircraft and systems
MUGEM’s design brings together air, surface and underwater assets within a single command-and-control network. According to Tatlıoğlu, the ship will be able to operate up to 52 KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft, in addition to unmanned surface and submarine vehicles.
The aircraft carrier will feature a flight deck and hangars adapted for the use of these aircraft in naval operations. The Turkish Navy currently operates five types of unmanned surface vehicle and three types of unmanned underwater vehicle. The programme is intended to allow these systems to be deployed directly from MUGEM.
According to statements by the naval commander, Turkey aims to become the first country to operate an aircraft carrier integrating unmanned aerial, surface and underwater systems within one command architecture. This capability sets MUGEM apart from the conventional aircraft-carrier concept, which is focused mainly on crewed aircraft.
Military shipbuilding is also expanding
The MUGEM programme forms part of a wider naval construction plan for the Turkish Navy. Tatlıoğlu indicated that 37 platforms are currently under construction, including the national aircraft carrier, fast attack craft, mine countermeasure vessels and the Kocatepe air-defence destroyer.
Turkish authorities also intend to begin building a further ten platforms in August 2026. With these new projects, the total number of warships being built for the Turkish Navy will rise to 47. At the same time, the country is constructing another 24 warships for overseas customers.
The expansion also covers newly developed domestic weapons systems. Tatlıoğlu said the nationally produced ATMACA anti-ship missile has replaced US-made Harpoon missiles and successfully struck a target 190 kilometres away during a test launched from a submarine. He also referred to the entry into service of the MALAMAN smart seabed mine and the AKYA heavyweight torpedo.
From 27 September 2027, the MUGEM programme will move into a new stage of Turkish naval development. Its launch will allow testing and systems-integration phases to continue before the scheduled 2032 delivery, as the Turkish Navy seeks to equip the vessel with multi-domain capability based on crewed and unmanned systems.
Images for illustrative purposes only.
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