Turkey plans to commission the MUGEM aircraft carrier in 2032
Turkey intends to complete construction and commission its national aircraft carrier, the MUGEM, in 2032. The ship will have a displacement of approximately 60,000 tons and is set to become part of the country’s naval development program.
This was announced by Rear Admiral Hakan Uçar, Commander of the Turkish Navy’s Naval Technical Command, during a presentation at the Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2026 international forum in Farnborough, UK, according to Ukrinform.
“The MUGEM project began in 2023 with the development of an operational concept, technical and economic studies, and an analysis of alternatives. After completing the project definition and conceptual design phases, it moved on to the preliminary design stage,” said Hakan Uçar.
According to him, construction, testing, and verification of the ship’s systems will begin after the detailed design phase is completed.
“The target date for the aircraft carrier’s delivery is 2032. The project is being implemented in accordance with the approved schedule,” noted the rear admiral.
According to the published specifications, the ship will be 285 meters long, 72 meters wide, and have a draft of 10.1 meters. Displacement is 60,000 tons. Maximum speed will exceed 26 knots, and cruising speed will be 14 knots. The ship will be able to carry up to 2,500 people.
The presentation also announced an increase in the aircraft wing to 52 platforms. Plans call for it to include a naval version of the Hürjet trainer-fighter, the Kızılelma unmanned combat aircraft, as well as the Anka-3 and TB-3 unmanned aerial vehicles.
“MUGEM is being developed as a multi-domain aircraft carrier. It will have capabilities not only for operating aerial platforms but also for deploying and recovering unmanned surface and underwater vehicles,” Uçar emphasized.
The ship is planned to be equipped primarily with domestic weapon systems and sensors, including ÇAFRAD radars, electronic warfare systems, and MİDLAS vertical launchers, according to the specialized publication SavunmaTR.
As a reminder, Ukraine and Turkey have moved closer to a large-scale energy agreement that provides for joint gas production in the Black Sea and the creation of a new fuel supply route to Europe via the Ukrainian gas transmission system. This was discussed during talks between the energy ministers of both countries.
Turkey and Russia are negotiating the extension of natural gas supply agreements beyond 2026, as the current contracts expire at the end of that period. The parties are discussing the possibility of extending energy cooperation, which remains an important component of bilateral economic relations.
