Turkey begins steel-cutting on MUGEM and MiLDEN vessels
The Anadolu amphibious assault ship. The MUGEM aircraft carrier will be twice its size. (Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Turkish Ministry of Defence has confirmed steel-cutting ceremonies for three major naval projects. On 2 January 2025, the Ministry announced work had begun on the MUGEM indigenous aircraft carrier, the TF-2000 AAW destroyer and the MILDEN indigenous submarine.
The steel-cutting ceremonies for the MUGEM and TF-2000 were conducted at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, while the ceremony for the MILDEN submarine took place at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard.
The Turkish national aircraft carrier
The MUGEM (national aircraft carrier) project was first announced in February 2024, during a visit by President Erdoğan to the Istanbul Naval Shipyard.
The MUGEM gained attention
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy to invest nearly $12 billion in maritime uncrewed systems and naval munitions in FY2026
Forming part of the Reconciliation Bill, the funding will support multiple efforts involving autonomous capabilities, interceptors, missiles, rockets and torpedoes.
-
RTX Raytheon advances with the development of new Barracuda mine neutraliser
The new Barracuda version has been engineered to perform enhanced subsea and seabed warfare missions.
-
US Coast Guard enhances Arctic protection with a new Fast Response Cutter
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
-
US Coast Guard announces measures to further implement Force Design 2028 strategy
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.