Turkey's first UAV ship: TCG Anadolu Dr. Can Kasapoğlu addressed frequently asked questions about TCG Anadolu, Turkey's first domestically produced UAV ship, in 3 questions.

1 • Why is TCG Anadolu important?

TCG Anadolu is a specialized platform with the capability to project power far beyond the country's territorial waters. As the world rapidly moves toward a second cold war, it represents the Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) geopolitical transformation. Let us acknowledge that Turkey's military strength is now at a far more advanced level than the defensive combat structure designed to counter dozens of Soviet divisions during the cold war era. In the 2020s, we are talking about an armed forces capacity that generates political and military influence beyond its borders, with forward bases spanning from Africa to the Middle East and the Caucasus. Added to this picture is the Turkish defense industry's technology development and export portfolio. The objective before the Turkish Navy is to gradually build an open ocean navy and equip it with robotic warfare capabilities. TCG Anadolu will create a special combat value compared to other Juan Carlos I-class and derivative amphibious assault ships in the Australian and Spanish navies (Juan Carlos I, Canberra and Adelaide). This is because a significant portion of TCG Anadolu's naval air capacity will consist of armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Indeed, some publications have even used the term "drone ship" in their military assessments of TCG Anadolu. TCG Anadolu will of course also feature crewed platforms such as attack helicopters and general-purpose helicopters. On the other hand, the platform's "UAV ship" designation stems from a quest to find an ambitious solution to a fundamental naval air capability gap.

2 • Why is TCG Anadolu called a "UAV ship"?

As is well known, Turkey was set to possess a large F-35A fleet under the F-35 program. The F-35 also has variants including the F-35B with short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities, and the F-35C with catapult-assisted takeoff but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) capability. The C variant is a platform produced for classic aircraft carriers. The F-35B is a suitable option for platforms classified as amphibious assault ships and landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessels. Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 project made it impossible to add F-35B's to inventory for use on TCG Anadolu in addition to the planned F-35A purchases. Turkish decision-makers thus turned to a visionary solution of bringing TCG Anadolu together with the country's rising UAV capacity. Undoubtedly, the Bayraktar TB2, with extensive combat experience ranging from Libya to Karabakh and most recently Ukraine's defense, is Baykar's most recognized and widely reported system in the world. Recently, Kızılelma has made headlines with critical matters such as turbofan engine technology, internal weapons stations and aerobalistic missile certification. The TB3, Baykar's other UAV solution that has not yet been the subject of dozens of military assessments like TB2 or Kızılelma but is equally critical, will form TCG Anadolu's main robotic warfare capacity. With its folding wing design, TB3 can be easily deployed on an amphibious assault ship. According to company data, with a 280-kilogram useful payload capacity, TB3 will be able to carry 130 kilograms more combat load than the Bayraktar TB2. Additionally, TB3, which has higher cruise speed and maximum speed than TB2, will be powered by the domestic PD170 engine. Later, Kızılelma will join TB3 in a variant suitable for TCG Anadolu. Thus, TCG Anadolu's UAV naval air fleet will consist of TB3's with folding wings and extended endurance capability, and Kızılelma with transonic air-to-air weapons system configuration and low-visibility design philosophy.

3 • What will TCG Anadolu bring to Turkey and its allies?

First and foremost, TCG Anadolu is a 30,000-ton defense diplomacy instrument. Prestige warships are among the most valuable diplomatic instruments of the nation that flies their flag. Every port visit of TCG Anadolu, every message conveyed from TCG Anadolu, every visiting leader hosted on TCG Anadolu will hold a special place in international media. From a military perspective, TCG Anadolu will provide TSK and Turkey's allies with highly flexible capabilities and opportunities. For example, if Turkey had a platform like TCG Anadolu in its inventory during the Libya intervention, the desired outcome could have been achieved in a much shorter timeframe. It should not be forgotten that strategic warships like TCG Anadolu operate as part of their own task groups by operational design. In the U.S. Navy, task groups that form around aircraft carriers are called carrier strike groups (CSG); groups that form around amphibious assault ships are called amphibious ready groups (ARG). How the task group will be structured will be the first matter we will closely follow with TCG Anadolu's introduction into inventory. Although TCG Anadolu is evaluated as a UAV ship, one must not overlook its "amphibious DNA." Amphibious units under the Turkish Navy have successfully served on many sensitive fronts, from internal security operations to cross-border operations in Syria. TCG Anadolu will represent a new chapter for Turkish amphibious forces. At this point, without going into details, let us note that we will closely follow the armored amphibious assault vehicle ZAHA, a new product of Turkish defense industry. Lastly, TCG Anadolu is an ideal platform for coalition missions. We are talking about a ship with 3 combat operations centers and highly advanced combat network management capability. Additionally, the flight deck modifications and runway characteristics made enable a wide variety of naval air operations. TCG Anadolu will be a prestige platform for Turkey within NATO and will presumably also command joint NATO operations.   Source