Exclusive Report: Türkiye Reveals Combat Capabilities of First Indigenous MİLDEN-Class Submarine.

According to information published by the TurDef website, on May 26, 2025, ROKETSAN unveiled the integration of its indigenous MİDLAS vertical launch system (VLS) into Türkiye's forthcoming MİLDEN-class submarines. TurDef, a specialized Turkish defense industry news outlet, reported this development as part of its coverage of the 12th Naval Systems Seminar. The event took place just ahead of the upcoming 2nd Naval Systems Seminar, scheduled for May 26–27, 2025, at the Istanbul Naval Museum, where further advancements in Turkish naval technologies are expected to be presented.
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A scale model of Türkiye’s indigenous MİLDEN-class submarine featuring integrated MİDLAS vertical launch system, highlighting the future of Turkish underwater strike capabilities. (Picture source X account TurkishCentury)

This milestone marks a critical step forward in the Turkish Navy’s submarine-launched strike capabilities, laying the groundwork for the deployment of cruise and ballistic missiles from stealth platforms. The MİLDEN program is set to serve as the backbone of Türkiye’s future submarine force and as a platform for strategic naval power projection.

The MİDLAS, short for "Milli Dikey Atım Lançer Sistemi" (National Vertical Launch System), is a domestically developed VLS by ROKETSAN. It was conceived as a sovereign alternative following the cancellation of the U.S. Mk 41 VLS procurement due to sanctions related to Türkiye’s acquisition of the S-400 air defense system. Designed to reduce reliance on foreign technologies and enhance national autonomy in naval weapons systems, MİDLAS is capable of launching a range of missiles including surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, and anti-ship types. Its architecture supports both hot and cold launch methods and features a modular cell design, allowing various missile types to be deployed in adaptable configurations depending on mission requirements. The system is fully integrable with domestic combat management systems and already demonstrated its effectiveness aboard surface combatants. Its incorporation into the MİLDEN submarine elevates Türkiye’s underwater warfare capabilities to a new tier.

The MİLDEN (Milli Denizaltı) project, Türkiye’s first fully indigenous submarine program, represents a transformative leap for the Turkish naval defense industry. With a surface displacement of 2,700 t and a length of over 80 m, the submarine employs an advanced Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system utilizing six Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell modules, methanol reformers, and high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. This enables prolonged underwater operations, high stealth performance, and independence from atmospheric oxygen, significantly enhancing tactical endurance and survivability.

For Türkiye’s defense industry, the ability to develop an indigenous submarine signals the end of dependency on foreign suppliers such as Germany, which previously provided Type 209 and Type 214 submarines. With MİLDEN, Türkiye gains full control over every critical subsystem—from hull design and propulsion to sonar, weapon integration, and fire control. The inclusion of MİDLAS in this architecture underscores the maturity of Türkiye’s domestic engineering and defense manufacturing capabilities.

Armed with eight 533 mm torpedo tubes, MİLDEN is designed to launch the AKYA heavyweight torpedo, submarine-launched variants of the ATMACA anti-ship missile, and the GEZGİN long-range land-attack cruise missile. The addition of MİDLAS enables vertical launches from submerged positions, offering a platform for future deployment of advanced indigenous missiles such as HİSAR-D RF and SİPER Block-1. This gives Türkiye strategic deterrence options previously reserved for a handful of naval powers.

The sonar suite of MİLDEN includes domestically developed low-frequency flank arrays, bow sonar, and towed array systems, offering enhanced underwater situational awareness and multi-target tracking in both littoral and deep-sea environments. These capabilities ensure that MİLDEN is not just a national symbol, but also a frontline operational asset.

Long-term strategic ambitions of the Turkish Navy include the development of nuclear-powered submarines, a capability currently limited to only six countries: the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and India. If Türkiye succeeds in this ambition, it would join an elite group with the ability to project sustained power over vast oceanic distances.

Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu from the Turkish Navy has previously announced that once MİLDEN reaches full operational capability, the submarine will be offered for export to allied and friendly nations. Construction of the lead vessel is expected to begin at Gölcük Naval Shipyard in 2025, with service entry projected in the early 2030s.

The integration of MİDLAS into the MİLDEN submarine, combined with indigenous weapons and sensor systems, is not just a technological achievement—it is a strategic milestone. It demonstrates Türkiye’s resolve to become a self-sufficient naval power and underlines the growing capability of its defense industry to produce next-generation platforms that meet and exceed global standards.