While it is clear that the Roketsan-made Atmaca surface-to-surface missiles, which gained their first operational capability last year, will replace the aging Harpoon anti-ship missiles on Turkish Navy combat ships, Ozgur Guleryuz’s statement was included as the first official statement on the project.
According to Guleryuz’s statement, on November 23, 2022, a contract was signed between Roketsan and STM for the integration of ATMACA anti-ship missiles into Turkish naval platforms, including 11 combatants. The platforms were defined by the Turkish Navy and SSB (Turkish Defence Agency).
The project’s due date is April 2027.
Naval News Comments:
Although the first platforms to be equipped with Atmaca missiles are not officially named, the contract between STM and Roketsan indicates that the missiles can be integrated into STM-contracted ships. Accordingly, the Ada-class corvettes, I-class frigates, and the upgraded Barbaros-class (Meko 200TN) are likely to be equipped with Atmaca missiles.
About ATMACA missile
ATMACA (means Hawk) is an all-weather, long range, precision strike, anti-ship cruise missile developed by Turkish missile manufacturer ROKETSAN. The Atmaca will replace Turkey’s existing inventory of Harpoon missiles gradually. The program began in 2009 to meet surface-to-surface cruise missile requirements of the Turkish Naval Forces. The prime contractor, Roketsan, started the design studies in September 2012.
The first ship-launched test was conducted by TCG Kinaliada on 03 November 2019. After several test firings in different scenarios, including GPS-free firing and operating in a tense electronic warfare environment, the missile passed all the tests and became ready for mass production. The missile passed the final tests in June 2021 and achieved IOC.
The missile features its global positioning system (GPS), inertial navigation system, barometric altimeter, and radar altimeter to navigate towards its target, while its active radar seeker pinpoints the target with high precision. Its data link provides missile with 3D mission planning, updating targets, reattacking, and terminating the mission. The missile is super sea-skimming as it approaches the target.
Atmaca technical data
- Length: 4,800 – 5,200 mm
- Weight: < 800 kg
- Range: > 220 km (KARA ATMACA will have a range of +280 km)
- Guidance: Inertial Navigation System + Global Positioning System + Barometric Altimeter + Radar Altimeter
- Warhead Type: High Explosive with Penetration
- Warhead Weight: 250 kg
- Seeker: Active RF (ship-launched), IIR (land-launched)
