A major milestone has been reached in Türkiye’s Landing Platform Dock (LPD) project, which will result in the country’s largest military ship. Commissioned by the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, the project officially entered a new phase with the signing of the classification services contract between the shipbuilder Sedef Shipyard and the national classification authority Türk Loydu. This agreement marks a significant step in ensuring that the vessel meets international standards and required technical validations throughout its construction.

The signing ceremony in Istanbul brought together senior officials including Sedef Shipyard CEO Metin Kalkavan and Türk Loydu Chairman Cem Melikoğlu. Speaking at the event, Kalkavan emphasized that the LPD will become the Turkish Naval Forces’ largest warship once completed. He noted that the project has been under development for nearly five years and that the goal is to deliver the ship within six years.

Kalkavan highlighted the ship’s advanced capabilities, underscoring that it carries many features of a “mini aircraft carrier.” The LPD will be equipped with systems enabling aircraft to land and take off, and it will have the capacity to carry 12 to 14 fixed-wing aircraft as well as around 20 helicopters. In addition, the platform will host landing craft, armored vehicles and tanks, offering Türkiye significant amphibious warfare capabilities. With this vessel, Türkiye will join a select group of nations operating ships of this class.

Beyond military operations, the LPD is being designed with humanitarian missions in mind. With a berthing capacity of 1,400 personnel and the ability to transport approximately 5,000 people during emergencies, the ship will be capable of supporting large-scale disaster relief and evacuation operations. This multi-purpose design underscores the strategic value of the platform for Türkiye.

The project stands as a strong indicator of Türkiye’s growing naval construction capabilities and its ambition to operate within the upper tier of global maritime powers. The LPD will not only bolster the Navy’s operational strength but also showcase the technological maturity and industrial depth of Türkiye’s defense sector.