Turkish Navy versatility getting boosted
Following the Scramble Magazine news item on “Turkish AH-1W return to the water” of 25 November 2021, the transfer of Turkish Army AH-1W Super Cobra assault helicopters to the Türk Deniz Hava Komutanlığı (Turkish Navy Aviation Command) has now materialised.
The first repainted Super Cobra has been seen at Cengiz Topel naval air station, carrying serial TCB-81. The Super Cobra helicopters are considered as a stop-gap solution until TAI develops a naval version of the T929 ATAK-2.
Turkish Navy airmen completed their AH-1W training at the Army Aviation School in Isparta in February 2022. The first four AH-1Ws flew from Isparta to Topel on 21 February. It is possible that another three were delivered on 25 March 2022. A small video of the new helicopter was released by the Turkish Navy.
On 7 March 2022, the first sea trials of the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu (L-400) started. The Anadolu is an LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) that will eventually host some of the most advanced aircraft currently under development like the Bayraktar TB3 and Bayraktar Kızılelma MIUS (Muharip İnsansız Uçak Sistemi or Unmanned Combat Aircraft System). Several production line photos of the Kızılelma have been posted already and some images suggest that the first Bayraktar TB3 is also on the production line of the Baykar Makina Esenyurt facility.
The TCG Anadolu LHD is expected to be commissioned in December 2022. It will be stationed at Aksaz naval base, just west of Dalaman. Therefore, it is to be expected that the AH-1W Super Cobra fleet is operated by 352 Filo at Muğla/Dalaman naval air station.
The Bayraktar Kızılelma, TB3 and AH-1W will all be carrier-borne as soon as the TCG Anadolu is commissioned. Depending on the type of UCAS, between 50 and 110 can be operated out of the Anadolu.
Thanks to Ibrahim Sünnetci/Defence Turkey @BRAHMSNNETC1 and Tolga Özbek @tolgaozbek_com for providing details.
Photos via Twitter Viya (@oeroguz)