TCG Levent LPD - Landing Platform, Dock

In 2010 the specifications for the 13,000 ton LPD project were changed, and it evolved into a +25,000 ton LHD project, though confusingly, it retained the PPD nomenclature. The first tender for the LPD project, released in June 2000, was canceled, with a second tender for the LPD Ship defined in the tender released 06 April 2007. As of early 2009, the preparation of RFP (Request for Proposal) for LPD (Landing Platform Dock) Project was in process, and it was estimated that the RFP would be issued in October 2009. But over the years the requirements of the Turkish Navy changed so that the size of the LPD increased, and Turkey began looking at an Amfibi Taaruz Gemisi, Helikopter (LPH) or a Çok Maksati Amfibi Taaruz Gemisi (LHD) - Amphibian Attack Ship [“taarruz” means “attack” or “offensive”]. By 2010 the Turkish Navy was preparing to buy its first landing-platform dock, capable of overseas amphibious force deployment as part of NATO and peacekeeping efforts.

A landing platform dock, or LPD, is an amphibious warship that transports elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. The landing ship dock will be required to be able to deploy a battalion-sized force of up to 1,000 troops and personnel, eight utility helicopters, three unmanned aerial vehicles, 13 tanks and 81 armored vehicles. The expected price tag of more than $500 million for the landing dock does not include the helicopters to be deployed on the ship.

The prime contractor for the $500 million project will be a local company, but because of the high degree of technology transfer required, there will also be heavy foreign-industry involvement. The Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry, or SSM, Turkey"s defense-procurement agency, opened a competition in late February 2010 among seven domestic companies that are expected to establish partnerships with foreign counterparts, including Italian, South Korean, Spanish, Dutch, French, British and German firms, according to procurement officials and business sources familiar with the program.

Procurement of this Turkish-designed helicopter carrier, Turkey’s first "aircraft carrier", would be capable of carrying four helicopters or four vertical takeoff jet fighter-bombers. A second carrier will be optional.

Levent Class LPD is a monohull vessel, designed to perform amphibious and logistics support missions including heavy seas, equipped with conventional all diesel-CPP propulsion system, conforming naval norms/standards and classification rules.

Levent Class LPD’s main purpose, with the personnel, vehicle, helicopter and load carrying capacity onboard, is;

1. to improve force projection capability
2. to provide flexibility and expedition during amphibious operations
3. to perform peace support, public evacuation, humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, while accommodating and supporting a battalion size force and operations head quarters

In addition to the LST project HAVELSAN, the first dock landing ship of the Turkish Navy (LPD), the combat systems for the program are mandated to provide solutions. HAVELSAN's responsibilities in this regard are as follows:

• Ensuring War and electronic systems integration
• Network developed Combat Management System supply capability has assisted operations,
• Air, Land and Joint Amphibious Warfare Command and Control Information The construction of a headquarters integrated with the way the system
• A plurality of links (link 11, 16, 22 etc.) And the establishment of a data link network system serving the user,
• Out war in support of sea operations,
• The platform information, real-time sensors, weapons and command and control systems to be transferred,
• The establishment of the Information Management System for National and NATO headquarters,
• Integrated Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) supply systems.