From Rejection to Revolution: How Turkey’s TCG Anadolu Redefined Modern Naval Power

After being ousted from the U.S. F-35 program, Turkey has transformed a diplomatic setback into a landmark achievement with the commissioning of the TCG Anadolu the world’s first dedicated drone aircraft carrier. By integrating its indigenous UAV technology, such as Bayraktar TB-3 and Kızılelma, into an amphibious assault platform, Ankara has pioneered a new era of naval warfare, blending drone innovation with maritime strategy. Defense analysts see the Anadolu as a bold assertion of Turkey’s strategic independence and its growing prominence as a defense innovator within NATO and beyond.

When Turkey was removed from the U.S. led F-35 Lightning II program in 2019 due to its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system, many predicted a major blow to Ankara’s air power ambitions. Instead, this moment became the catalyst for one of the most transformative developments in Turkish defense history the birth of the TCG Anadolu, the world’s first drone carrier and now the flagship of the Turkish Navy.

Based on Spain’s Juan Carlos I amphibious assault ship, the Anadolu represents a revolutionary concept: combining the capabilities of a light aircraft carrier with the versatility of unmanned combat aerial systems (UCAVs). The vessel features a full length flight deck with a ski jump ramp, designed to launch up to 50 combat drones, including Bayraktar TB-3 UAVs and the jet-powered Kızılelma (Red Apple) both produced domestically by Baykar Technologies.

Defense expert Christian D. Orr, writing for The National Interest, notes that this innovation is not merely technical but strategic, signaling Turkey’s shift toward defense self-sufficiency. “Anadolu stands as a tangible expression of Turkey’s resolve to innovate when denied access to foreign systems,” Orr wrote, highlighting the project’s symbolic importance as a “post-F-35 success story.”

The Hisar-class of drones aboard the Anadolu will allow Turkey to project power across the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Seas, while also providing surveillance, electronic warfare, and precision strike capabilities. With the Kızılelma achieving autonomous take off and landing milestones in 2024, analysts predict the Anadolu will soon operate a fully integrated UCAV air wing, making Turkey the first nation to achieve this operational capability.

According to Interesting Engineering, the Anadolu’s architecture allows it to maintain up to 18 ready to launch drones, track 100 targets simultaneously, and coordinate with ground based or naval command centers via secure data links (Link 11B and Link 16). Its modular configuration allows flexibility at both battery and battalion levels, underscoring Turkey’s mastery of distributed, networked warfare systems.

Beyond its tactical significance, the TCG Anadolu embodies Ankara’s broader vision of strategic autonomy. With projects like the MUGEM class national aircraft carrier, launched in 2025, Turkey is building a layered naval force that combines manned and unmanned systems to rival even traditional Western fleets.

As defense analyst Can Kasapoğlu from the EDAM Center for Security Studies observed, “The TCG Anadolu is more than a ship it’s a statement. It signals that Turkey is no longer a follower in defense innovation; it’s a leader shaping the future of naval warfare.”

In a world where drones dominate the modern battlefield, Turkey’s pivot from reliance to resilience marks a defining moment in military evolution. From exclusion to innovation, the Anadolu’s journey underscores a central truth of modern geopolitics: those who adapt, lead.