The Turkish Navy has successfully completed the first underwater test-firing of the Atmaca long-range anti-ship cruise missile.
Turkish Defence Industries Secretary Haluk Görgün stated that the missile developed by Roketsan was launched from the the Preveze-class attack submarine TCG Preveze in the Mediterranean Sea.
“Turkish defense industry is moving forward for a fully independent future on land, air, and sea!” Görgün announced on social media.
The Atmaca is a long-range, precision-guided anti-ship cruise missile designed by the Turkish missile manufacturer Roketsan. This missile system is being integrated into the Turkish Navy to systematically replace the current stock of Harpoon missiles. The surface-to-surface variant of the Atmaca is known as Kara Atmaca.
The programme commenced in 2009 when Türkiye’s Undersecretary for Defense Industries (SSM) entered into a contract with Roketsan to develop a surface-to-surface cruise missile tailored to the needs of the Turkish Naval Forces. Following the completion of a prior research and development contract, Roketsan began its design studies in September 2012, with oversight from the Navy Research Center Command (ARMERKOM).
The missile is intended for deployment across multiple platforms, allowing it to be launched from warships, submarines, aircraft, and coastal batteries, and is designed for land-attack missions as well. After undergoing a series of tests, the first land-based launch of the Atmaca occurred in March 2017. In October 2018, a contract for serial production of the Atmaca was signed between Roketsan and the Presidency of Defense Industry.
Atmaca is set to be integrated into the Turkish Navy’s Ada-class corvettes, Istanbul-class frigates, G-class frigates, Hisar-class offshore patrol vessels, and the forthcoming TF-2000-class destroyers.
