Turkey to Start Manufacturing Anti-ship Cruise Missile

Presidency of Defence industries (SSB) of Turkey has signed a deal with two indigenous companies Rokestan and Aselsan to jointly manufacture the country’s first anti-ship missile, a Turkish newspaper reported quoting an SSB statement on Friday.

Roketsan is tasked with serial production of ATMACA cruise missiles while Aselsan will work on the launch control systems and other important equipment for the missiles. The two Turkish companies will be making use of local resources for developing both missiles and launch systems, the newspaper added.

The systems will be integrated into the MILGEM (National Ship) project, which was initiated in 2000 to locally design and build a fleet of multipurpose corvettes and frigates that will replace older ships.

The ATMACA is similar in capability to the Exocet of France, C-802 of China and Harpoon of the US. It can travel at subsonic speed and can reach a range of up to 200 km. The guidance suite comprises of a INS/GPS system with a terminal-stage active radar-homing (ARH) seeker. The provision of the Kale 3500 powered by ATMACA will enable Turkish industry the means to fully-source its stand-off range missiles.