Turkish Navy Moves Toward Supercarrier Class with 300m Aircraft Carrier Through Turkish Spanish Firms Cooperation.

On July 3rd, 2025, Türkiye’s ambitions in the naval domain took a decisive new turn with confirmation that the Presidency of Defence Industry Agency (SSB) is advancing a joint project with Spain to develop a 300-metre aircraft carrier, as reported by Sabah. This announcement comes as a striking evolution from Türkiye’s TCG Anadolu program and reflects Ankara’s determination to expand its maritime power projection. The initiative places Türkiye’s future carrier in a league comparable not only with European vessels but with those operated by the United States and China, a sign that Ankara seeks a more assertive posture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
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This project marks a significant recalibration of Ankara’s naval and geopolitical doctrine. In the Mediterranean Sea, where competition for maritime influence is intensifying, such a carrier will strengthen Türkiye’s deterrence and operational flexibility, especially in disputed waters (Picture source: Turkish Navy)

The newly planned carrier, informally referred to as the Milli Uçak Gemisi (MUGEM), will stand as Türkiye’s largest domestically built naval platform to date. With a length of 300 metres, it dramatically surpasses the TCG Anadolu, which measures about 232 metres, and dwarfs most European amphibious assault ships. Designed with enhanced air wing capacity and longer operational endurance, this new vessel aims to serve as a floating hub for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones, and command-and-control systems, expanding Türkiye’s reach far beyond its coastline.

The development process, according to President of the Defence Industry Agency (SSB) Haluk Görgün’s remarks to Sabah, builds upon the successful cooperation with Spain during TCG Anadolu’s early design stages. Spanish shipbuilding expertise, notably from Navantia, is once again being integrated to ensure that this next-generation carrier meets the operational standards demanded by modern naval warfare. The carrier will be constructed at domestic shipyards in Istanbul, reinforcing Türkiye’s shipbuilding ecosystem and stimulating local defence industries with high-value technological inputs.

The 300-metre length means this ship will rival mid-sized American supercarriers and China’s rapidly expanding fleet, offering Türkiye the ability to project air power over greater distances with a more diverse air complement. Unlike the TCG Anadolu, which is limited in its capability to launch conventional fighter jets, the new platform could accommodate more advanced aircraft or larger drone operations, closing the capability gap with global naval powers. By comparison, Europe’s largest active carriers, like France’s Charles de Gaulle or the UK’s Queen Elizabeth class, measure around 280 to 284 metres. Türkiye’s new design not only overtakes these but signals its intent to break free from purely regional limits.

Strategically, this project marks a significant recalibration of Ankara’s naval and geopolitical doctrine. In the Mediterranean Sea, where competition for maritime influence is intensifying, such a carrier will strengthen Türkiye’s deterrence and operational flexibility, especially in disputed waters. Its presence will also affect the balance of power in the Black Sea, where NATO, Russia, and coastal states continue to navigate complex dynamics. This signals Ankara’s resolve to secure sea lines of communication, protect energy routes, and safeguard its blue homeland doctrine with a far-reaching symbol of power.

The announcement that Türkiye and Spain will co-develop this larger carrier demonstrates a bold strategic leap, reflecting Ankara’s intent to become a decisive naval power with the means to influence regional security far beyond its immediate shores. With this step, Türkiye is not merely building a bigger ship, it is redefining its role in the maritime order of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, signaling to allies and rivals alike that its ambitions are no longer confined to coastal defence but extend to sustained force projection and operational dominance at sea.