Agreement signed for classification of largest Turkish landing platform dock

Türk Loydu and Sedef Gemi İnşaatı AŞ signed an agreement on Saturday for classification of the largest Turkish Naval Forces warship . Metin Kalkavan, CEO of Sedef Gemi İnaşaat and Cem Melikoğlu, chair of the Türk Loydu managing committee, attended the agreement ceremony.

The Landing Platform Dock would be the largest warship in the Turkish naval forces, Kalkavan told Anadolu Agency. “This also will be the largest ship ever classified by Türk Loydu. This is a difficult project. We have reached this point after a 5-year-long work. We hope to handover the ship within six years."

The vessel is actually a mini airship. The ship has landing and takeoff systems for fighter jets. The ship, which can carry at least 12 aircraft, 20 helicopters, armored vehicles and tanks, will be central to the country's amphibious transport.

After launching the operation, Turkey would be one of the ten countries in the world that use the landing platform dock, said Kalkavan. “The project will lead Turkish naval forces to 'super league'."

Türk Loydu's Melikoğlu said the 230-meter-long ship would be a unique work for them. They anticipate that it may change the military balance in favor of Turkey.

Melikoğlu said he would like to build larger ships for the Turkish military after completing the current one