Anadolu is pictured being towed out of Sedef Shipyard for the first time on 27 February. The LPD has started SATs and is on track to be commissioned in December. (Cem Devrim Yaylali)
The Turkish Navy's landing platform dock (LPD) Anadolu has started its official sea acceptance tests (SATs), İsmail Demir, head of Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), announced on his official Twitter account on 25 June.
Following the completion of its SATs, the future flagship of the Turkish Navy and the largest ship to be operated by the service is scheduled for commissioning in December 2022.
Anadolu was built by Sedef Shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul, in partnership with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, under a contract signed in 2015. It is based on Navantia's Juan Carlos I-class design.
Construction began in 2016 and under the original contract terms, Anadolu was set to be delivered in 2020. However, the final stages of the programme have been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic and consideration to convert the ship to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrier.
Anadolu was towed out of the shipyard for the first time on 27 February, and on 7 and 10 March conducted its first technical cruise sailing under its own power.
Turkish armoured vehicle manufacturer FNSS is building marine armoured amphibious vehicles for the Turkish Navy that will be used to transport troops from Anadolu to the shore and inland. FNSS will deliver a total of 27 vehicles: 23 of which are personnel carriers, two are command-and-control vehicles, and two are rescue vehicles.
Sedef is also constructing four landing craft mechanised (LCMs) and two landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVPs) that will be operated from Anadolu
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