Within the scope of TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan, the National Aircraft Carrier Forum was held at the Istanbul Shipyard Command, where four officers from the Turkish Navy presented detailed technical information about Türkiye’s upcoming indigenous aircraft carrier. The discussion focused on the platform’s engineering innovations, energy systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and survivability design.

Engineer Lieutenant Aykut Demirezen emphasized that the carrier’s propulsion configuration was selected to meet operational demands of up to 10,000 nautical miles, enabling it to travel from Türkiye to New York and back without refueling. He also underlined the integration of advanced KBRN protection systems, maintaining internal overpressure to safeguard the crew from chemical, biological, and radiological threats.

Engineer Lieutenant Burhan Savran detailed the ship’s electrical architecture, designed to supply uninterrupted power to all critical subsystems including lighting, climate control, communication, and weapon systems. The total installed power of 40 MW, equivalent to the energy consumption of 3,000 homes, highlights the scale of the carrier’s infrastructure. With a high-voltage level of 6,600 volts, the system ensures efficient power delivery across all machinery and combat systems.

Engineer Lieutenant Ebubekir Er focused on combat system integration, revealing that the ship will feature the ÇAFRAD radar, developed with domestic technology and capable of detecting threats at a range of 750 kilometers—a feature unmatched by other carriers. The vessel will also house a 32-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) capable of firing both defensive and offensive guided missiles, in addition to electro-optical sensors for 360-degree passive surveillance in electronic silence conditions.

Engineer Lieutenant Yavuz Alp Oğuzalp discussed the carrier’s “survivability concept,” emphasizing radar cross-section reduction, radar-absorbing materials, and blast-resistant structural design. The ship will incorporate sonar and underwater countermeasure systems to protect against sub-surface threats.

The forum demonstrated the collaboration between military engineers and Türkiye’s defense industry, including participation from TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI) General Manager Mahmut Faruk Akşit. The National Aircraft Carrier project stands as a symbol of Türkiye’s growing naval power and technological self-reliance, aiming to bring the nation’s maritime capabilities to a global standard.