Yesterday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense reported that it successfully carried out the first launch of the submarine version of its new ATMACA anti-ship missile, developed by the local company Roketsan. The test was conducted from the Turkish Navy’s submarine TCG Preveze (S-353), which belongs to the Preveze-class, consisting of Type 209-1400 submarines.
Expanding on the few details known about this milestone, it is worth noting that the missile launch took place in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the presence of high-ranking Turkish officials to assess its performance. Among the most notable attendees were the Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, the Head of the Defense Industry Agency, Haluk Görgün, and Roketsan’s General Manager, Murat İkinci. Aspects such as the missile’s achieved range and the target used remain undisclosed.
Regarding the Turkish Navy’s ATMACA program, it was initiated in 2009 with the primary objective of developing a new indigenous anti-ship missile to replace the Harpoon systems currently in service. The developer, Roketsan, began the design studies in the second half of 2012, with the first test launch taking place in 2019 from the corvette TCG Kinaliada.
In terms of technical specifications, specialized sources indicate that the missile is equipped with GPS guidance systems, an inertial navigation system, and an active radar for high-precision target acquisition. Additionally, it is known to reach supersonic speeds during its trajectory and features a data link allowing for real-time target updates. In terms of dimensions, each unit measures between 4.8 and 5.2 meters in length and weighs approximately 800 kilograms, with 250 kilograms belonging to its penetrative explosive warhead.
Finally, it is noteworthy that the very submarine involved in the testing of the new ATMACA missile variant, TCG Preveze, was also responsible for conducting the qualification tests of the locally developed AKYA torpedo in 2023. This was made possible primarily due to the new capabilities integrated into the submarine following its Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU), which included the installation of the MÜREN combat management system. This upgrade enables the Preveze-class submarines to operate domestically produced weaponry, significantly enhancing their attack capabilities.
Cover image: Turkish Ministry of Defense
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