Turkey Tests ATMACA Anti-Ship Missile from Sub DEFENSE NEWS TODAY

The Turkish Navy made a major breakthrough in naval warfare capacity by successfully test-firing the submarine variant of the ‘Atmaca’ anti-ship missile. SSB President Haluk Görgün announced that the submarine TCG Preveze conducted the test off the coast of the port city of Mersin.

Test Information and Conduct

The Atmaca missile was launched from a special capsule designed to fit the submarine’s standard 533 mm torpedo tubes. Once fired, the capsule moved safely away from the submarine before releasing the missile into open waters. Videos on social media showed the missile flying, but no explosion occurred, suggesting it lacked a live warhead.

The key success of the test was proving the submarine could fire such a capsule from its torpedo tubes. This marks a major step forward in Türkiye’s ability to conduct underwater missile strikes in future naval conflicts.

Development and Integration of Atmaca Missile

Designed and produced by Roketsan, the Atmaca missile is the primary offensive weapon of the Turkish Navy, replacing the old inventory of Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles gradually.

The Atmaca has already been inducted into Ada-class corvettes and frigates under the Barbaros mid-life upgrade. The induction of the missile into various platforms shows Turkey’s initiatives to upgrade its naval weaponry and achieve greater self-sufficiency in defense technology.

International Interest and Export Success

The Atmaca missile has also gained international attention, with Indonesia and Malaysia among its export customers. Indonesia, in November 2022, inked a deal to purchase 45 Atmaca missiles, a significant step towards enhancing its naval capabilities.

Malaysia, too, has selected the Atmaca missile system, which will be installed on its three Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch 2 vessels, based on the Turkish Ada-class corvette design. These are reflective of the missile’s growing popularity and Turkey’s increasing influence in the global defense industry.

Technical Capabilities and Specifications

The Atmaca is an all-weather, long-range, precision-guided, anti-ship cruise missile. It has a global positioning system (GPS), inertial navigation system, barometric altimeter, and radar altimeter to guide it to the target, and its active radar seeker detects the target with high accuracy.

With a range of over 220 km, the missile is a major threat to beyond-line-of-sight targets. Its new data link offers the ability to perform 3D mission preparation, target updates, reattacks, and mission termination.

During the flight towards its target, the missile sea-skims to avoid enemy defence. The use of ATMA on different platforms, such as frigates, corvettes, patrol boats, coastal defense batteries, and unmanned surface vehicles, demonstrates its flexibility and versatility in modern naval warfare.

Historical Landmarks and Future Directions The production of the Atmaca missile started in 2009, and the first land test firing took place in March 2017. Further tests have proven its reliability and efficiency.

Importantly, on March 10, 2024, the Atmaca missile successfully engaged the target by using Turkey’s first locally developed turbojet engine, the KTJ-3200, produced by Kale Ar-Ge. In August 2024, the KARA ATMACA UM (Long Range) cruise missile, a land variant of the missile, successfully tested its long-range firing, striking the target with outstanding accuracy.

In 2025, the KARA ATMACA will enter operational service. All these developments point to Turkey’s continuous efforts to increase its indigenous defense capabilities and reduce its dependence on foreign technology.

Strategic Implications

Turkey’s successful submarine launch of the Atmaca missile marks a major step forward in naval warfare capabilities. This achievement boosts the Turkish Navy’s offensive strength and highlights Turkey’s growing skill in advanced defense technologies.

Firing anti-ship missiles from submarines adds a stealthy and powerful edge to Turkey’s maritime defense posture. Such underwater strike ability could shift the naval balance of power across the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.

Atmaca’s export success also shows Turkey’s rising role as a serious player in the global defense market. This success creates opportunities for new partnerships and accelerates the development of domestic military technology.

Conclusion The recent test-firing of the submarine-based Atmaca anti-ship missile marks a significant milestone in Turkish defense history. It demonstrates the country’s resolve to be independent, technologically progressive, and strategically deterrent.

As Turkey continues to develop and integrate homegrown defense systems, its role in regional and global security processes is expected to strengthen, aligning with a broader movement of nations that aim to enhance their defense capabilities through local innovation and foreign partnerships.