Türkiye’s TAIS displays LHD-230 amphibious assault ship at DIMDEX 2026 for global deployments.

The Turkish consortium TAIS Shipyards exhibited a scale model of its LHD-230 landing helicopter dock at DIMDEX 2026.

TAIS Shipyards presented a scale model of the LHD-230 landing helicopter dock at DIMDEX 2026 in Doha, a large amphibious ship designed for aviation operations, amphibious assault, command functions, and logistical support. The LHD-230 is intended for sustained operations in geographically distant areas, with emphasis on range, endurance, and embarked force capacity.
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A landing helicopter dock, such as the LHD-230, is a multipurpose amphibious assault ship that combines helicopter carrier functions with dock landing ship functions, typically using a full-length flight deck plus a well dock for launching landing craft and amphibious vehicles. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Primary missions include amphibious assault, force projection, operation as an aviation-capable ship, and logistical support for forces deployed ashore or at sea. Secondary missions include humanitarian aid operations, non-combatant evacuation operations, and commanding joint operations. The LHD-230 explicitly targets operations in geographically distant areas, linking endurance, range, and embarked force capacity to sustained deployments over extended periods.

TAIS Shipyards (TAİS Gemi İnşa ve Teknoloji A.Ş.) was established in 2017 by five Turkish private shipyards with equal shares, specifically Anadolu Shipyard, Istanbul Shipyard, Sedef Shipyard, Sefine Shipyard, and Selah Shipyard to pool their expertise and capabilities for naval shipbuilding and maritime defence solutions. The formation of TAIS in 2017 marked a coordinated effort by these major Turkish yards to create a consortium capable of meeting both national defence requirements and competing successfully in naval markets. Industrial capacity, centered in the Tuzla and Yalova regions, includes four slipways of different sizes with a maximum slipway capacity of 250 meters by 41.2 meters, for a steel processing capacity of 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes per year. Workforce figures include more than 2,000 core personnel and more than 13,000 subcontractor personnel.

TAIS' LHD-230 has a length overall of 230.8 meters, a beam of 32 meters, and a draft of 6.8 meters, with a displacement of 27,000 tonnes. In terms of performances, the LHD-230 possesses a maximum speed of 20 knots and an economical speed of 14 knots, combined with a range of 9,000 nautical miles and an endurance of 50 days. These figures place the ship within the category of large amphibious assault ships optimized for long-duration missions rather than short-range operations. The hull dimensions and displacement support the integration of a full-length flight deck, internal well deck, and extensive accommodation and support spaces to cover aviation, amphibious, and support roles.

Propulsion is based on electric podded propulsion, with two 11 MW Siemens eSIPOD units supplemented by two 1,500 kW bow thrusters for maneuvering. Electrical power generation is brought by five 8,000 kW diesel generator sets, supplying propulsion power, mission systems, and onboard services. Navigation equipment includes two low-probability-of-intercept radars, two navigation radars, magnetic and gyro compasses, WECDIS, WAIS, a digital plotting table, GPS, echosounder, and electromagnetic log. This suite provides multiple, overlapping means for navigation, positioning, and situational awareness during amphibious and aviation operations. The propulsion and navigation configuration supports prolonged deployments and complex maneuvering close to shore.

Accommodation capacity reflects the ship’s amphibious and aviation roles, with berthing for 348 crew members and additional capacity for 700 amphibious personnel, 200 HRF personnel, 56 flight personnel, and 50 medical personnel. This distribution supports the embarkation of a large landing force alongside aviation detachments and medical staff. The inclusion of dedicated medical personnel indicates an onboard medical capability sized for sustained operations, while the overall personnel capacity also permits joint command functions, allowing embarked command staff to operate alongside the ship’s crew, combining combat, evacuation, and humanitarian tasks within the same deployment.

Armament of the LHD-230 includes five 25 mm Aselsan Stop naval gun systems, two Phalanx close-in weapon systems, provision for a RAM guided missile system, and a decoy launching system. Sensors and mission systems include the Advent combat management system with amphibious and joint operations capability, Link 11, Link 16, Link 22, JRE, and VMF, together with a 3D search radar, aircraft detection and control radar, precision approach radar, diver detection sonar, IFF, laser warning system, IRST, and two electro-optic search systems. Additional systems includes TACAN, an electronic warfare suite with radar electronic support and countermeasures, a torpedo countermeasure system, a meteorological measurement system, and an integrated communications system covering HF, VHF or UHF, and X-band or Ku-band satellite communications.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.