Turkish Naval Forces conduct first ship-launched Atmaca ASM test firing

The Turkish Naval Forces (Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri – TDK) on 3 November conducted the first ship-launched firing of the Atmaca (Hawk) anti-ship missile (ASM) from the TDK Ada-class (MILGEM) corvette TCG Kinaliada (F-514) at an undisclosed location in the Black Sea.

Evolved within the scope of the MILGEM Project, Turkey’s national warship programme, Atmaca is the country’s first indigenously developed dedicated above-water ASM system, and is intended to replace the Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon ASM in TDK surface platform service.

Prime contractor Roketsan commenced development of the missile in September 2012, following the completion of a 2009 research and development phase contract with Turkey’s Undersecreteriat For Defence industries (SSM). The initial land-based firing of Atmaca was conducted in March 2017, after which a Roketsan spokesperson told Jane’s that the missile was in the final testing phase, and that a serial production contract for Atmaca was signed with TDK on 29 October 2018.

The Turkish Naval Forces Ada-class corvette TCG Kinaliada (F-514) fires an Atmaca ASM at an undisclosed location in the Black Sea on 3 November. (Roketsan)

According to Roketsan, Atmaca is an autonomous, all-weather, low-signature, super sea skimming ASM. Resistant to countermeasures, the missile features a mission planning system with 3D routing, and a target update, re-attack, re-target, and mission abort capability via a commercial off-the-shelf two-way datalink.

Powered by a Safran TR40 microturbo engine, the missile has a range in excess of 200 km and a subsonic engagement speed of Mach 0.85. Weighing less than 800 kg, including a 250 kg-class high-explosive penetrating warhead, Atmaca is 5.2 m in length, 350 mm in diameter, and has a deployed wingspan of 1.4 m.