Ankara: The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the successful launch of the domestically produced Atmaca anti-ship missile from a submarine, marking a significant advancement in the Turkish Navy’s military capabilities.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Turkish Ministry of Defense shared footage of the missile launch, developed by the Turkish company Roketsan, using local expertise, on its Twitter account. The missile launch signifies a notable achievement for Turkey, as it joins a select group of countries capable of launching guided missiles from underwater platforms.

Haluk G¶rgn, the head of the Turkish Defense Industries Presidency, stated that the Atmaca missile is now capable of striking targets from underwater. This capability is a crucial development, as only a limited number of countries possess this technology. The missile’s initial test was conducted in November 2019, launched from the domestically manufactured Kinaliada warship.

The Atmaca, meaning “hawk” in Turkish, is Turkey’s first naval cruise missile. It boasts a range of over 220 kilometers and is produced by Roketsan, a prominent Turkish defense industry company. With the inclusion of this new missile in the Turkish army’s arsenal, Turkey aims to reduce its reliance on the American “Harpoon” missiles, as noted by Turkish military experts.