The construction of Turkey's first indigenously-built "multipurpose amphibious assault ship -- the TCG Anadolu", which can be configured as a light aircraft carrier, in Istanbul is gathering pace, according to the head of a Turkish business body.
Metin Kalkavan, who is the chairman of Istanbul, Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean and Black Sea Chamber of Merchants, told Anadolu Agency: "Approximately 90 percent of the [building] blocks are at the end of production.
"Immediately after the manufacturing phase, fittings will be carried out."
Kalkavan said the production of the ship, which comprises of 114 blocks, would boost the capacity of Turkish naval forces.
"We will be the 10th state to have such a ship. There are only five or six producers in the world," he said.
The highly-anticipated attack ship will increase the operational capability of the Turkish Navy, he added.
The ship, which is 68 percent indigenous, is expected to hit the seas in February 2019.
"After that, we will complete the tests and deliver it. The value of the project is over 1 billion euros," Kalkavan added.
TCG Anadolu is an amphibious assault ship of the Turkish navy that can be configured as a light aircraft carrier. The ship is 232 meters in length, 32 meters in width and 55 meters in hieght.
The construction of the ship began in 2016. The vessel is intended to meet the various needs and requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces, such as sustaining long-endurance, long-distance military combat or humanitarian relief operations; while acting as a command center and flagship for the Turkish navy.
