Turkish Landing Platform Dock to be Service in 2021
A 34–Bed General Hospital to be available at the LPD
In his speech at the ceremony, Undersecretariat for Defence Industries Naval Platforms Department Head Müjdat Uludağ gave significant remarks on the technical equipment, task functions and programme schedule regarding the vessel. Stating that the aforementioned LPD will have 6 runways that are convenient for the safe landing and take-off of the helicopters Uludağ added, “The landing deck will enable the landing and take-off, transfer and safe parking of the helicopters up to 35 tons of landing and takeoff, tilt engine aerial vehicles and unmanned air vehicles. Moreover, it will be capable of transporting wheeled and tracked vehicles up to 30 tons”. Uludağ mentioned that the vessel will feature a 34-bed general hospital and said, “The LPD will accommodate a 34–bed general hospital with an operating room, x-ray machines, external treatment units, emergency unit and infection rooms and it will be able to perform within the scope of humanitarian aid operations as well”.
The Landing Platform Dock that is planned to operate in the operational areas at the Aegean, Mediterranean and Black Sea will also be able to perform the tasks assigned at the open seas such as the Indian Ocean or the Atlantic Ocean when required. In addition to its amphibious tasks, the landing platform dock will be able to assume tasks for humanitarian aid purposes or during natural disasters with the help of the general hospital it features.
Local Work Share Increasing in the Landing Platform Dock
Expressing that the design support for the vessel will be provided by the Spanish Navantia company,Uludağ added, “Systems such as the Electronic Warfare Suite, Infrared Tracking System, Electro – Optical Director, Torpedo Deception System that feature STAMP and STOP Weapon Systems, Combat Management System Integration and Operating Software, Genesis – Advent Radar Electronic Attack and Counter Measurement systems will be developed nationally by the Aselsan – Havelsan business partnership”.
1200 Personnel to be employed
The construction of the Landing Platform Dock will be conducted by Sedef Shipyard the at Tuzla Shipyard Region. The platform will be built 231 meters long and weigh 27,436 tons in full load displacement. The LPD to be built domestically in line with the requirements of the Naval Forces Command will be able to carry the helicopters, aircrafts capable of vertical landing and take-off, unmanned air vehicles, tanks and vehicles of various types without requiring a main base support to crisis regions with its 1223 personnel and join the operations with its landing crafts at its deck. The LPD is capable of remaining at the sea for 50 days with its staff of 1223 and is able to conduct cruises at the open seas for 20 days without taking on supplies. The Landing Platform Dock features a hangar capacity of 900m2 and depending on the needs of the Naval Forces 12 NH-90 Helicopters or 8 CH-47 Chinook could be placed at the vessel. At the flight deck of 4750m2, 6 spot NH-90 Helicopters or 4 CH-47 Chinook or CH-53s can remain simultaneously. Moreover, if demanded, Bell V-22 helicopter can land on the stern of the vessel (aft spot).
This LPD that will be built based on the Juan Carlos I platform of Spanish Navantia Company will overall feature the same characteristics of the Spanish Juan Carlos I model. According to the initial remarks made by the representatives of the companies following the completion of the tender, the vessel was not supposed to feature a Ski-Jumping area. However, during the contract negotiations, a revision was made regarding this point and as a result, a flight deck with a slope of 12 degrees (Ski – Jumping area) will remain at the vessel for aircrafts capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and unmanned air vehicles. Especially, the F-35B VTOL configuration featured at the small-scaled model of the Landing Platform Dock displayed at the Naval Forces Command’s stand at the IDEF’ 15 event reflects the point of view regarding this matter. With the entry of this vessel into the inventory, it is observed that in the upcoming period, Turkey will be purchasing the F-35B capable of vertical take-off and landing configuration in addition to the F-35A configuration. Following the signatures, the programme is expected to be completed within 67 months and the LPD would be included to the Turkish Naval Forces’ inventory by 2021.
