MUGEM: Turkey begins construction of 60,000-tonne aircraft carrier for drones
August 27, 2025
Turkey is moving forward with its plans to construct a drone carrier, which it calls the National Air Carrier (Milli Uçak Gemisi or MUGEM in Turkish). With the possible addition of the Chinese Type 076 helicopter dock, this is one of the first large-scale warships designed to operate advanced UAVs.
Turkey starts construction of its new drone carrier
When built, the National Air Carrier will carry advanced Turkish uncrewed combat aircraft like the Kızılelma combat unmanned fighter drone, now entering mass production. It will also carry other UAVs like Turkey’s TB3, Anka, and TB2. Turkey has emerged as a world-leader in advanced combat drones.
The Turkish drone carrier will be the first purpose-built large-scale vessel of its type, extending 285 meters and weighing 60,000 tons.
The ship will complement the existing 230-meter-long, 27,000-ton TCG Andolu drone-carrying amphibious assault ship already in service. The Andolu is based on the Spanish Juan Carlos I-class helicopter dock, which is also the basis for the Australian Canberra-class.
On August 26, Türkiye Today reported that the Istanbul Shipyard Command has announced the start of the construction of the vessel. The aim is for the vessel to launch in 2027-2028 and be delivered to the Turkish Navy in five years.
Türkiye has officially begun construction of its National Aircraft Carrier, also known as MUGEM, a 285-meter, 60,000-ton vessel that will significantly surpass the capabilities of the TCG Anadolu and serve as a mobile base for Türkiye’s expanding fleet of unmanned aerial systems. pic.twitter.com/7lowxTSCdo
— Turkish Politics 🇹🇷 (@TurkishPolitics) August 26, 2025
Türkiye Today stated, “The carrier will feature full integration with Türkiye’s domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), positioning the vessel as a pioneering platform for drone warfare capabilities.”
Wider trend to mixed fighter/UAV aircraft
The Turkish National Air Carrier appears to be bucking a wider trend. The conversation about dedicated drone carriers typically focuses on the need for smaller, dispersed, and more numerous flattops to launch air power. But Turkey’s singular massive drone carrier does not accomplish that.
When a flattop becomes this big, it typically becomes worthwhile to operate manned fighters from them as well. Business Insider points out that Turkey had planned to operate F-35B fighters from the TCG Andolu before the US kicked Turkey out of the programme.
The US’s DARPA has been investigating using small drone carrier ships for years, although small drones likely don’t satisfy US range and payload requirements. The US is working to complement its existing flattops with a range of UAVs, including Boeing’s new MQ-25 Stingray aerial tanker, soon to enter serial production.
Turkey’s first ever aircraft carrier and the largest ship of the navy will be officially launched tomorrow. The flagship TCG Anadolu.
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) April 9, 2023
TB-3 armed drone, with folding wings, and the country’s first ever unmanned jet Kizilelma are already onboard pic.twitter.com/ThycJFuAH6
The Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are 284 meters (932 feet) long and weigh around 80,000 tons. The Royal Navy plans to operate advanced UAVs from these conventional carriers when the drones become available.
China’s new aircraft carriers can operate both crewed and uncrewed aircraft, while Japan is retrofitting its Izumo-class “destroyers” to operate its new F-35B fighter jets.
Other drone carrier projects
In 2007, BAE Systems produced a concept called the 8,000-ton UXV Combatant, which would have combined the concepts of being a drone carrier with features from the Type 45 destroyer. The bizarre-shaped design failed to gain traction.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has taken delivery of the country’s first drone carrier, Shahid Bahman Bagheri, on Thursday. Shahid B. Bagheri, a former container ship, is equipped with a 180-meter (590-ft) runway and launch drones such as the Qaher and Mohajer-6. pic.twitter.com/0vp4gsxaG2
— Cagatay Cebe (@Mucagcebe) February 6, 2025
In 2022, China launched the first mothership for an uncrewed vehicle called Zhuhai Cloud, which is an oceanography research vessel. However, it is comparatively diminutive at just 2,000 tons. The large Type 076 helicopter dock also appears to be a type of drone-carrying amphibious assault ship.
Iran recently converted a commercial container ship to carry drones, renaming it the Shahid Bagheri.
