Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan unveiled the initiative last week at the TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan festival, Anadolu Agency reported.
According to Le Figaro, the carrier will be fully designed and constructed in Türkiye, with commissioning expected by 2030. The ship will measure 285 meters in length, 72 meters in width, and displace over 60,000 tons — significantly larger than France’s Charles de Gaulle (261 meters, 42,500 tons).
The vessel will carry up to 50 aircraft, including fighter jets and next-generation strike drones such as Kızılelma and ANKA 3. Its launch is planned for 2027–2028. Unlike Western counterparts, the ship is specifically designed to integrate advanced drone systems from the outset.
Lieutenant engineer Aykut Demirezen told local media that the carrier will be capable of sailing from Türkiye to New York and back without refueling. Its specially designed bow will allow up to 1.5% fuel savings. Over 80% of the ship’s components will be produced domestically, placing Türkiye among the few nations capable of independently building such vessels.
Erdoğan described the project as “a historic step for the Turkish navy” and a symbol of support for oppressed peoples such as those in Palestine and Somalia. Meanwhile, France is also pursuing its own PANG project — a 75,000-ton carrier set to become the Mediterranean’s new giant in the next decade.
