This week’s Quwa Premium article is a recap of some defence news items from around the world. Besides a basic overview of the news, this article also offers short-form analysis of each issue.
Turkey Launches Second Reis-Class Submarine for Sea Trials
On 23 May 2022, Turkey’s Gölcük Naval Shipyard launched the Turkish Navy’s second Reis-class (i.e., Type 214TR) submarine – TCG Hizir Reis – for sea trials. The Gölcük Naval Shipyard also celebrated starting the production work of the sixth and final Reis-class submarine, the TCG Selman Reis.
The Reis-class submarine program is the result of a 2009 contract between Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and the German contractor ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Under the deal, which was reportedly valued at € 2.060 billion at the time of signing, Turkey would manufacture six customized Type 214 submarines domestically. The first of these boats, the TCG Piri Reis, is slated to join the Turkish Navy fleet in 2022. Turkey’s expecting to deliver the sixth and final ship by 2027.
The Type 214TR will be equipped with a fuel cell-based air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. The Reis-class submarine has a length of 68.35 m, a diameter of 6.3 m, displacement of 1,850 tons, and a capacity to support a crew of 40. It is capable of anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-ship warfare (AShW) and long-range land attack capabilities. Turkey confirmed that it will configure the Reis-class submarine with locally-designed and built munitions, such as the Atmaca anti-ship missile (AShM) and Akya ASW torpedo.
Turkey also moved to localize many of the Type 214TR’s key subsystems, such as sensors, electronics, and weapon systems. Not only are Turkish contractors like Aselsan, Meteksan, and Havelsan are supplying key subsystems for the Reis-class program, but they are also exporting their solutions. The Pakistan Navy’s upgraded Agosta 90B submarines, for example, are using a number of Aselsan and Havelsan subsystems. Turkey also marketed the Reis-class for export to other countries, notably Indonesia.
Traditionally, the Turkish Navy is a user of German-origin submarines, such as the Type 209-series and the forthcoming Type 214TR. However, upon the completion of the Type 214TR, Turkey will actively transition to manufacturing indigenous submarine designs. The flagship project of this initiative is the MILDEN.
Turkey Aims to Start Building its MILDEN Submarine in 2025
During the launching ceremony of the TCG Hizir Reis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that Turkey will start constructing its indigenous submarine design, MILDEN, in 2025 at Gölcük.
The MILDEN (Milli Denizalti or National Submarine) is the flagship program of Turkey’s efforts to produce its series of indigenous submarines. In addition to the MILDEN, Turkey is also working on its own miniature diesel-electric submarine (SSK) – i.e., the STM500 – and a larger, export-oriented design known as TS1700.
For the MILDEN, Erdoğan emphasized that Turkey will work towards developing its own AIP system (using fuel cells), electric motors, batteries, sonars, and other key inputs. Through the Reis-class program, Turkey had already built the capacity to indigenously manufacture the submarine hull.
Turkey is certainly being ambitious with regards to the MILDEN’s scope. There is no doubt that developing one’s own propulsion stack (i.e., motors) and power-generation and management systems (e.g., fuel cells) is a difficult process. Granted, the Turkish government would not have announced these goals without at least some initial work from the domestic industry. However, for Turkey, developing and producing these critical inputs would catapult it into exclusive territory. Today, there are very few countries that can build a conventional submarine from end-to-end. Even for its export-centric designs, China had originally relied on the Germans to supply the engines for its S20/S26-series.
Don't Stop Here. Unlock the Rest of this Analysis Immediately
To read the rest of this deep dive -- including the honest assessments and comparative analyses that Quwa Plus members rely on -- you need access.
