President of Defence Industries Professor İsmail Demir attended a Tv channel to explain recent improvements in the defence industry. Professor Demir stated that 50 or more Armed / UAVs would be deployed on TCG Anadolu multipurpose amphibious vessel. The vessel has just got the ensign flag hoisted recently before starting sea trials.
Speaking to CNN Turk, Professor Demir stated that a minimum of 50 Armed/UAVs will be deployed at TCG-Anadolu. “The number may vary according to the configuration and may reach 110 UAVs”, Demir added. Turkey initiated the acquisition program to deploy F-35B stealth aircraft. As the United States removed Turkey from Joint Strike Fighter Program due to CAATSA, Turkey created its new class of amphibious vessels. The Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) class became the multipurpose amphibious class to deploy Baykar's TB3 UAVs and jet-powered combat UAV (MIUS)
Demir has also talked about the air defence system. Stating that Turkey had only the low altitude defence system Korkut (35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun) until three years ago, Demir said, “We added Sungur (Short-range air defence for mobile or stationary missions) Hisar A, and Hisar A+ (Low Altitude Air Defence Missile System, + means extended range], Hisar O+ (Medium Altitude Air Defence Missile System, + means extended range), [into inventory].
Siper Block 0 (High altitude Air Defence Missile System) is near. It will be followed by Block 1 and Block 2. We expect to see Block 0 mature enough by the end of this year or next year.”
