ATMACA Cruise Missile Launch: A Major Defense Milestone
**The successful launch of the CAPSULED ATMACA cruise missile marks a significant milestone for Turkey’s defense capabilities.** The missile was fired from the TCG PREVEZE submarine, a demonstration of the nation’s growing prowess in underwater warfare. Esteemed officials attended the event, including Haluk Görgün, President of the Defense Industry, Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, and ROKETSAN General Manager Murat İkinci. Görgün proudly communicated the achievement via his official X account, expressing his gratitude to all who contributed to this groundbreaking success.
With this test, Turkey inches closer to joining a select group of countries equipped with anti-ship missile capabilities launched from submarines. The project, initially introduced in 2021 by former Defense Industry President Ismail Demir, highlighted the underwater ATMACA missile during the delivery ceremony of the TCG PİRİREİS submarine. Designed for submarine launching, the ATMACA showcases advancements that align it conceptually with the UGM-84 Sub Harpoon anti-ship missile, albeit with enhanced range capabilities.
The ATMACA employs a sophisticated design that allows it to launch from a capsule compatible with 533 mm torpedo tubes, initially powered by a solid propellant rocket before transitioning to a turbojet for cruising. This adaptation enables the missile to engage targets at significantly greater distances than traditional torpedoes. Importantly, the ATMACA is engineered with features that minimize radar detection, complicating countermeasures against submarine-launched strikes.
This advanced weaponry not only positions Turkey to effectively target ships, but it also holds potential for engaging land targets in future conflicts. Furthermore, recent discussions at the SAHA EXPO exhibition previewed MILDEN’s vertical launch system, enhancing the operational versatility by suggesting the capability to launch both the GEZGİN cruise missile and the ATMACA from a torpedo tube.
