Turkey expands naval production with 71 warships and first indigenous aircraft carrier

Turkey is significantly expanding its naval production capacity, with 71 warships currently under construction in domestic shipyards. A central part of this initiative is the development of MUGEM, the nation’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. Construction of the 60,000-ton platform has commenced at the Istanbul Shipyard Command, with a planned launch date of September 27, 2027. MUGEM is designed to carry up to 50 aircraft, including Hürjet, Bayraktar Kızılelma, and ANKA-3 unmanned systems.

While domestic military production is accelerating, the commercial sector of Turkish shipyards faces challenges. Despite a global surge in shipping orders—the highest growth rate since the 2008 financial crisis—Turkish shipyards are struggling to secure new commercial contracts. This difficulty is attributed to rising costs and currency pressures, leading some export-oriented shipyards to report a lack of new orders or contracts over the past one to two years. This occurs even as global demand for tankers and container ships rises due to geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.