High Profile Ceremony Launches Turkey’s “Bayraktar” Amphibious Ship
“Bayraktar”, the first of the two vessels featuring Amphibious Operation and Fire Support as main task functions and to be procured within the scope of the Landing Ship Tank (LST) Procurement Contract executed by the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) in order to fulfil the requirements of the Naval Forces Command was launched with a ceremony. President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of National Defence Mr. Vecdi Gönül, Chief of General Staff Major General Hulusi Akar, Commander of the Naval Forces Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu, high-level military staff and many participants attended the ceremony held for the launch of the first vessel built by ADİK Shipyard at the ADİK Shipyard in Tuzla.
In his speech at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of ADİK Executive Board Mr. Sualp Ürkmez stated that the second vessel sharing the same functions with “Bayraktar” -the launching ceremony of which is accomplished- was under construction and it would be entering into Naval Forces Command’s inventory eight months after the delivery of the first tank. Noting that the LST vessels were being designed and manufactured through local resources in maximum, as requested by the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, Ürkmez added that US., Spain, Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom were amongst their rivals in the production of the tanks in this range.
Pointing out that foreign dependency, around 80 percent presently, decreased to the level of 40 percent, President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that for the year 2023 they aimed to fully abolish foreign dependency. Expressing that they were determined to continue the projects, particularly the MILGEM, and further strengthen the navy with new projects, Erdoğan continued, “Today we are launching the first tank to the sea. As of now, within the scope of MILGEM programme we have launched two of the 4 vessels. We achieved significant progress in many projects such as the helicopter, tank, unmanned aerial vehicle and aircraft projects and managed to arrive at the production stage. Yet we still have to complete certain stages. We need to prepare ourselves for a war if we wish for the peace. Through such understanding, we will continue to strengthen our army in order to make the peace and security permanent both in our region and in the world”. Following the speeches, President Erdoğan was awarded with a plaque and LST “Bayraktar” was launched to the sea with applause.
Local Content is around 70%
The vessel’s contract was signed in 2011 and its construction started in 2013. 70.68 % of the LST that features a first in its field is manufactured through the support of the domestic industry. The tank featuring ballistic protection is capable of full protection of its personnel against nuclear, biological and chemical attacks. The overall length of the vessel is 139 meters and its width is measured as 19.60 meters while its displacement was designed as 7 thousand and 254 tonnes. The tank also features a helicopter platform that allows the take-off and landing of the GeneralUtility Helicopters of 15 tonnes weight. Moreover, 4 LCVP vehicles, each of which are capable of transporting 8 tonnes or 40 persons and reaching 20.0 Knots at Light ship displacement are located in “Bayraktar” in addition to 3 self-propelled pontoons. In order to enable the accomplishment of expected speed values and manoeuvre capabilities, the vessel has a main propulsion system composed of 4 diesel machines, 2 reductions, 2 shaft systems and 2 fixed pitch propellers. “Bayraktar” has a designated capacity of 566 beds in addition to its capacity of transporting a load of 1,200 tonnes or various tanks, armoured vehicles and other vehicles and is capable of remaining at offshore for 30 days without replenishment while sailing more than 5 thousand sea miles. A staff composed of 486 troops will be able to service at the vessel. 12 Officers, 51 Sergeants, 66 Privates, 17 Joint Operations Group Officers and 350 Amphibious Personnel will be performing their duties on the vessel. Besides the aforementioned features, the tank features domestically manufactured Command Control System and Stabilized Remote Controlled Weapon Platform (STAMP) together with the numerous electronic and warfare systems such as the Genesis Combat Management System, 3-Dimensional Search Radar, Navigation Radar, LPI Radar and two Electro Optical Sensors with night and day visibility, Infrared Scanner, Laser Warning System, Electronic Warfare Alerting System, various links and HF, UHF, HVF communication devices.
The procured Amphibious Ships will be able to chart safely at the Black Sea, Aegean and the Mediterranean operation fields as well as at the international waters of the surrounding and far seas.
LST will be contributing to the representation of the Turkish naval forces in the World Seas with its vehicle and personnel transportation capacity, command control services, night and day helicopter operation capability, fire support and emergency health services. Moreover, through contributing to the administrative and logistical task functions by conducting amphibious operations, these tanks will also.
