Turkish defence vendor STM showcases MILDEN submarine proposal

Turkish defence firm Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik A.Ş. (STM) unveiled its design proposal – i.e. x-TS1700 – for the Turkish Navy’s National Submarine/Milli Denizaltı (MILDEN) program at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF), which concluded in Istanbul last week.

STM CEO Davut Yilmaz (via Anadolu Agency) said that the x-TS1700 was the outcome of STM’s submarine design studies, which were commissioned by Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM). For STM, utilizing domestic resources and industry capabilities.

As per Shephard Media, the x-TS1700 has a displacement of 1,740 tons. It has a length of 60.14 m and a diameter of 6.5 metres, and can accommodate a crew of 25 (as well as six special forces operatives). The submarine has eight torpedo tubes for heavyweight torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. STM is aiming for a diving depth of 300+ m, top speed of 20+ kts and endurance of 90 days (with air-independent propulsion).

With the aim of ultimately replacing the Turkish Navy’s Type 209 submarines, the MILDEN will take on a wide range of roles including, among others, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-ship warfare (AShW), land attack, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and special operations.

Notes & Comments:

Turkey is aiming to ensure that the six upcoming ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) Type 214TN air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines are the last of its submarine imports. In fact, the Type 214TN program could be considered a bridge to the MILDEN in that a significant portion of the Type 214TN’s sub-systems, such as the combat management system, are being sourced domestically (via Havelsan and Aselsan). The next phase would be to extend these efforts to a locally designed platform – i.e. the MILDEN.

Besides the x-TS1700, STM is also budding to design and develop a miniature diesel electric submarine (SSK) for replacing the Pakistan Navy’s MG110 Cosmo mini-SSKs (MSI Turkish Defence Review). This is one of four naval development programs on STM’s Pakistan roadmap, the other three being the Fleet Tanker, Agosta 90B submarine upgrade program and sale MILGEM Ada corvettes. If the Pakistan Navy proceeds with the proposal, the mini-SSK program could be an avenue for STM – as well as Pakistan’s Maritime Technologies Complex (MTC) – to gain development experience in submarines ahead of the MILDEN.