Turkey Launches Construction of First Indigenous MILDEN Submarine, Marking Major Naval Milestone

Construction Begins on First MILDEN Submarine

The government of Türkiye officially announced the start of construction on the first submarine under the MİLDEN Project (National Submarine Project). The first weld — marking the creation of the initial test block — was laid down at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard, as confirmed during a weekly press briefing by the Ministry of National Defense.

This event transitions MILDEN from design and planning into manufacturing, setting the stage for delivery to the Turkish Naval Forces in the early 2030s.

Background: Why MILDEN Matters

For decades, Türkiye’s submarine fleet has largely depended on foreign-designed platforms. Under MILDEN, Ankara aims to change that. The project was formally launched in 2010 under the coordination of the Turkish Naval Research Center Command (ARMERKOM).

The conceptual design phase completed in 2022, after which detailed design work began. The MILDEN class represents the country’s first fully indigenous submarine platform — with Turkish-designed hull, propulsion, weapon systems, sensors, electronics, and combat systems.

Technical Details: What MILDEN Will Bring

According to official and defense-industry sources, MILDEN is planned as follows:

• Displacement and size: Approximately 2,700 tons on the surface; hull length exceeding 80 meters.
• Propulsion: A diesel-electric configuration enhanced by an Air‑Independent Propulsion (AIP) system. Reportedly the AIP setup will include six PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel-cell modules, methanol-reformers, and high-capacity lithium-ion batteries — enabling extended submerged operations without surfacing.
• Stealth features: Hull construction will use domestically produced HY-100 steel coated with anechoic materials to limit sonar detection. The submarine will also carry a modern sensor suite including bow sonar, low-frequency flank arrays, and towed-array sonar systems for improved underwater situational awareness.
• Armament: MILDEN will have eight 533 mm torpedo tubes. Weapons slated include the domestically developed AKYA heavy torpedo, submarine-launched variants of the ATMACA anti‑ship missile and the future GEZGİN cruise missile. The integration of a vertical launch system is also planned through the indigenous MİDLAS vertical launch system.

Strategic Implications: What This Means for Türkiye’s Navy

The move to build MILDEN submarines signals a shift toward greater self-reliance in Turkish naval capabilities. By building a submarine from the hull up using domestic design and systems, Türkiye reduces dependency on foreign suppliers — a strategic advantage given recent arms embargoes and sanctions by some supplier nations.

AIP-equipped submarines like MILDEN offer enhanced stealth and underwater endurance. That means greater deterrence and improved ability to patrol strategic areas such as the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Seas — without the need to surface frequently. This could afford Türkiye more secrecy and flexibility in operations.

Moreover, the planned armament — torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, land-attack cruise missiles, and vertical-launch launch capability — would allow MILDEN to play multiple roles: anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and land-strike operations.

The MILDEN program also reflects a broader naval modernization drive. The launch of MILDEN construction comes alongside work on the indigenous TF‑2000 Destroyer Project and the MUGEM National Aircraft Carrier Project — pointing to Turkey’s ambition to build a more balanced and capable fleet for the coming decades.

In a broader sense, a fully domestic submarine platform can become an export product for friendly or allied nations, according to comments from senior Turkish naval leadership.

What Comes Next: Timeline and Challenges

Construction of the first test block marks the start of a multi-year process. The completed submarine is expected to join the Turkish fleet by around 2031.

But the road ahead involves rigorous trials and validation. Integrating AIP, weapons, sensors and combat systems — all domestically developed — will require extensive testing under sea conditions. Stealth, endurance, reliability, and systems integration all will be scrutinized before MILDEN can be certified.

If successful, MILDEN could serve as the foundation for a new class of submarines, reducing the need for foreign imports and allowing Türkiye to meet regional maritime challenges with a home-grown fleet.