The Turkish Navy on Wednesday successfully tested the submarine-launched version of Atmaca, a domestically produced anti-ship guided missile, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced.
The test was conducted from the Turkish submarine TCG Preveze on March 12, according to a statement posted on the ministry’s official social media accounts.
The missile was named Sub-Atamaca by the state-run company that produces it.
The ministry described the test launch as part of a project to enable submarine deployment of the Roketsan-developed Atmaca missile using fully indigenous resources.
The Turkish Navy conducted the launch from a Type 209 submarine, Germany’s widely exported diesel-electric attack vessel, in the eastern Mediterranean.
Footage released by Turkish authorities showed only the missile’s launch phase, with no indication that targeted guidance systems were assessed during the test.
A key element of the test was integrating Sub-Atmaca with MÜREN, the National Integrated Combat Management System developed by Turkey’s Scientific and Technological Research Council and the Navy’s Research Center Command.
MÜREN coordinates various sensors, navigational systems and weapons systems and enables tasks such as sonar signal processing, command and control, fire control and ship navigation to be carried out using domestically developed technology.
The modernization program extends to both Preveze and Gür-class submarines, all eight of which are to be equipped to deploy the Sub-Atmaca missile once their MÜREN integration is complete.
The Atmaca missile, initially designed as a surface-to-surface anti-ship missile, has been operational with the Turkish Navy since 2021. Its submarine-launched variant extends the missile’s deployment capabilities, allowing submarines to engage surface targets from submerged positions.
The Sub-Atmaca missile is designed to eventually replace the UGM-84 Harpoon missile, a US-made anti-ship weapon currently used by the Turkish Navy. The Harpoon, with a range of approximately 120-150 km, has been deployed on Preveze and Gür-class submarines for years.
While the surface-launched Atmaca boasts a range exceeding 200 km, officials expect the submarine variant to offer similar capabilities.
The test, conducted in the strategically significant eastern Mediterranean, demonstrated the missile’s compatibility with the standard 533 mm torpedo tubes used across the Turkish submarine fleet to ensure seamless integration with existing platforms.
Defense analysts say the Sub-Atmaca test could pave the way for further advancements, such as the Gezgin cruise missile currently under development, which could provide land-attack capabilities similar to the US-made Tomahawk missile.
If adapted for submarine use, the Gezgin could expand Turkey’s naval strategic options. Additionally, as new Reis-class (Type 214TN) submarines join the fleet, these indigenous systems may be integrated into next-generation platforms and enhance operational flexibility.
Regional implications
Greece is preparing to bolster its defense capabilities in response to Turkey’s advancements, according to a report by the Greek Ekathimerini news website. Its Type 209 and Type 214 submarines are already armed with Harpoon guided missiles, and officials are discussing adding MdCN (Scalp Naval) cruise missiles to the Papanikolis-class submarines.
The Greek defense ministry is also looking at buying four next-generation submarines to replace older Type 209 vessels, aiming to maintain its naval edge in the Aegean and Mediterranean.
A major part of Greece’s defense plan is “Achilles’ Shield,” a multilayered security system designed to improve anti-submarine surveillance in the Aegean Sea. The system, developed by Greek defense firms under ELKAK, the Greek Defense Innovation Center, will use seabed sensors to monitor Turkish naval activity in real time. It is part of a larger strategy that includes anti-missile, anti-aircraft, anti-drone and anti-ship defenses.
Ekathimerini cited Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias as underlining the importance of modern technology in response to growing geopolitical tensions. Referring to a 12-year defense procurement plan by Greece, he said the country needs advanced and adaptable systems to meet emerging challenges.
Greece’s efforts are direct countermeasures to Turkey’s maritime defense initiatives and are likely to intensify the ongoing arms competition in the eastern Mediterranean.