Türkiye Reveals MRTP-53 Fast Attack Craft with 8 Atmaca Missiles for Coastal Combat.

Türkiye is pushing further into littoral naval warfare with the MRTP-53, a missile-capable fast attack craft built to deliver speed, agility, and concentrated firepower in contested coastal waters. It gives naval forces a fast-moving platform for patrol, interception, and anti-surface missions where larger warships are less flexible and more exposed.

Developed by TAIS Shipyards, the 56-meter composite-built vessel is designed for armed surveillance and coastal combat in confined maritime spaces. That makes it a useful complement to larger combatants and reflects a broader shift toward lighter, harder-to-target naval assets built for rapid response, sea denial, and distributed maritime operations.

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The MRTP-53 mock-up displayed by TAIS Shipyards at DSA 2026 in Malaysia shows this advanced-composites fast attack craft designed for high-speed littoral operations, with missile capability, a 76 mm gun, and an architecture intended for armed surveillance, maritime interdiction, and anti-surface warfare. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The rationale for developing an advanced composites missile-capable fast attack craft of this kind lies first in its suitability for contemporary low- and medium-intensity naval conflicts in coastal waters. A fast unit, operating with limited draft and carrying concentrated firepower, can move through straits, archipelagos, port approaches, or areas around offshore infrastructure with greater responsiveness than a larger ship. For Türkiye, this type of vessel also carries a clear industrial interest, because it allows the country to offer an export solution that is armed, mobile, and more accessible than a corvette, while also highlighting domestic systems in sensors, electronic warfare, and armament.

At DSA 2026, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from April 20 to 23, TAIS Shipyards presents the MRTP-53, describing it as an advanced composites missile-capable fast attack craft intended for high-speed littoral operations. The choice of Malaysia reflects both the role of this exhibition in the Asian defense landscape and the strategic setting of Southeast Asia, where several navies are seeking to strengthen their means of presence, maritime control, and rapid reaction. Displaying this vessel in Kuala Lumpur, therefore, places it directly in front of regional requirements that match its operational profile.

The MRTP-53 has an overall length of 56 meters, a beam of 9.20 meters, a draft of 2 meters, and a displacement of 340 tons. Its maximum speed is listed at 50 knots, with a range of more than 1,100 nautical miles. The vessel carries a crew of 31, in addition to 6 mission personnel. These characteristics indicate an effort to balance compact dimensions, speed, and endurance, with a format suited to navies that need to cover extended maritime areas quickly without relying exclusively on larger units.

Operationally, this type of vessel provides tempo and flexibility. Its speed reduces response times, allows repeated course changes, and complicates an opponent’s targeting sequence. Its shallow 2-meter draft also enables operations in coastal or confined waters where a larger ship would face greater maneuvering constraints. A fast attack craft of this kind can therefore be used to intercept a suspicious vessel, protect sensitive infrastructure, conduct maritime interdiction, support a local sea-denial posture, or rapidly project mobile firepower in a coastal theater.

Propulsion is based on four MAN 20V175D/ML diesel engines rated at 4,400 kW each, paired with MJP waterjets, including two MJP850 DD CSU units and two MJP850 boosters. Such a configuration is consistent with the performance expected from a fast attack craft, since waterjets improve maneuverability at high speed and are well-suited to rapid movement in restricted waters. In tactical terms, this architecture enables the vessel to enter and exit an engagement area quickly, which increases its relevance for harassment, saturation, or immediate-response operations.

The vessel is presented for missions including missile-capable fast attack operations, surveillance and intelligence gathering, anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, maritime security, and interdiction. Coastal security, patrolling, anti-asymmetric operations, search and rescue, combat search and rescue, and training are also listed. This range of roles shows that the MRTP-53 is not conceived solely as a strike asset, but as an armed naval platform capable of covering several mission sets from a single hull.

Its armament includes eight Roketsan Atmaca anti-ship missiles mounted on ONUK launchers, one Leonardo 76 mm Super Rapid gun, two ASELSAN SMASH 200 12.7 mm systems, and one ASELSAN KARTACA-N decoy launching system in a 2 x 6 tube configuration. The Atmaca gives the vessel an anti-ship strike capability beyond the horizon against surface targets, which materially changes the operational status of a craft of this size. The 76 mm gun provides a multi-role capability against surface targets, close-range threats, and certain aerial profiles, while the remotely operated heavy machine guns and decoy launchers support the vessel’s immediate self-protection.

The sensor suite includes a Terma Scanter 6002 2D radar, an ASELSAN CENK 200-N 3D radar, ASELSAN Ahtapot 100 and MARTI 200N systems, an ASELSAN ARES-2NCD electronic warfare system covering the 2 to 18 GHz band, and an ASELSAN IdentIFF Mode 5S TP and I/LR identification system. For navigation, the vessel receives a low-probability-of-intercept navigation radar, DGPS, echo sounder, gyro compass, speed log, and (W)AIS. This combination gives the MRTP-53 a higher level of tactical autonomy than a basic patrol craft, since it combines surface detection, air surveillance, identification, discreet navigation, and electronic warning in a relatively compact design.

The MRTP-53 also reflects TAIS Shipyards’ broader position in the naval market. The company presents a portfolio that extends well beyond fast attack craft, covering BORA frigates and corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, fast combatants, amphibious ships, replenishment ships, special-purpose vessels, and floating docks. That range indicates an industrial approach built around multiple naval segments rather than a single product line, allowing TAIS to offer both combat vessels and support platforms to customers with different force-structure requirements.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.