Focus : Türkiye to Launch Largest-Ever Maritime Exercise Including Live-Fire ATMACA Anti-Ship Missile Test.

As reported by Devrim Yaylalı on May 5, 2025, the Turkish Armed Forces are launching Denizkurdu-II/2025, the largest planned naval exercise in the country's history, beginning on May 5 and continuing until May 17. Spanning the Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean, and Eastern Mediterranean, this massive drill orchestrated by the Turkish Naval Forces Command involves 120 naval platforms, including 104 surface ships, 6 submarines, and 52 manned and unmanned aerial assets. For the first time, a large number of joint operations will also be executed with the Land Forces, Air Force, Gendarmerie, and Coast Guard, showcasing Türkiye’s ambition to conduct multi-domain operations in high-threat environments.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

With over 90% of its operational fleet at sea, the use of indigenous systems like ATMACA, and extensive joint-force integration, the Denizkurdu-II/2025 drill will become the largest planned naval exercise in the country's history.  (Picture source: Turkish MoD)

The exercise, directed from a 93-person control center in Gölcük, will simulate high-intensity warfighting scenarios to strengthen command-and-control, boost joint force readiness, and enhance interoperability. The presence of Admiral Kadir Yıldız alongside Rear Admirals Sezer, Eser, Türkkan, Özturşucu, and Korkut at the launch briefing underscores the operation’s significance within Türkiye’s military calendar.

Live fire training will include the use of ATMACA, Türkiye’s indigenous anti-ship missile, SM-1 missile launches against high-speed drone targets, and numerous air-to-ground and naval bombardment scenarios using both legacy and next-generation systems. Units including the internationally recognized SAT (Underwater Offense Team) and SAS (Underwater Defense Team) will conduct a range of specialized operations, encompassing amphibious assaults, coastal defense, anti-submarine warfare, and the deployment of unmanned maritime systems. Port visits to Turkish Cypriot and Mediterranean ports underline Türkiye's regional presence and strategic messaging under the “Mavi Vatan” (Blue Homeland) doctrine.

This year’s drill marks a significant evolution in Türkiye’s naval posture, combining advanced Turkish-built platforms, next-generation UAVs, and legacy U.S.-origin systems to conduct full-spectrum maritime warfare. Notably, the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship is expected to serve as a launch platform for the Bayraktar TB-3 UAV, further demonstrating the Navy’s growing integration of unmanned systems. The exercise delivers a calibrated message to both regional powers and NATO allies, highlighting Türkiye’s rising maritime autonomy and its ambition to shape security dynamics in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

This edition of Denizkurdu stands as the most extensive naval drill in Türkiye’s history. Compared to Denizkurdu 2021, which saw the participation of around 87 naval assets, the 2025 iteration involves 120 ships and 85 aerial platforms—marking a scale increase of roughly 35 to 40 percent. When measured against the Turkish Navy’s total fleet, over 90% of its operational surface vessels have been mobilized, reflecting an exceptional level of peacetime readiness and commitment. The deployment of nearly all amphibious platforms, auxiliary ships, unmanned systems, and a broad array of manned and unmanned air assets highlights Türkiye’s ability to project full-spectrum maritime power, amounting to an unprecedented mobilization of its naval forces.

This information is corroborated by multiple official Turkish sources, including the Anadolu Ajansı and official statements from Rear Admiral Rüştü Sezer. The presence of 79 ships involved in port visits, detailed breakdowns of aerial sorties, and specific missile test schedules were all disclosed publicly in a press conference held at the Naval Warfare Center Command in Gölcük.

The systems deployed span a range of Turkish and foreign technologies. Among the Turkish-made platforms are the flagship TCG Anadolu (LHD), the ATMACA anti-ship missile developed by Roketsan with a domestically produced Kale jet engine, and unmanned surface vehicles developed by Turkish defense firms. UAVs and guided munitions such as MAM-T, Cirit, and TEMREN reflect the growing integration of Aselsan and Roketsan technologies into naval doctrine. These domestically sourced systems are not only operational but are now essential elements in live-fire training, confirming Türkiye’s capacity for technological independence.

Developed as a direct replacement for the U.S.-made Harpoon missile, ATMACA offers longer range (over 220 km), sea-skimming flight profiles, and a Turkish-made propulsion system. (Picture source: Roketsan)

Legacy U.S.-origin systems such as the SM-1 missile still feature in defensive drills, though their presence is increasingly symbolic. The SM-1 launch against a high-speed aerial drone showcases retained interoperability and provides continuity in layered air defense, but Turkish emphasis is now clearly shifting toward national systems. Similarly, older U.S. frigates and ex-Perry class systems remain in service but are increasingly augmented or replaced by MILGEM-class vessels and indigenous electronics.

ATMACA represents a cornerstone of this doctrinal and technological transition. Developed as a direct replacement for the U.S.-made Harpoon missile, ATMACA offers longer range (over 220 km), sea-skimming flight profiles, and a Turkish-made propulsion system. In April 2025, ATMACA demonstrated a new capability by being launched from a submarine, further enhancing its deterrence role. Compared to global equivalents like the French Exocet or the Russian Kalibr, ATMACA holds its ground in terms of guidance, range, and resistance to electronic warfare. For Türkiye, the missile is more than a weapon, it is a strategic declaration of independence in critical naval strike capability.

Strategically, Denizkurdu-II/2025 underscores Türkiye’s intent to assert dominance in the maritime theater under its “Mavi Vatan” (Blue Homeland) maritime doctrine. This exercise comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, Aegean disputes with Greece, and growing NATO interest in Black Sea deterrence post-Ukraine war. It serves as a signal to adversaries and partners alike that Türkiye is willing to act as a naval power in its own right. With increasing use of unmanned systems and integration of land, sea, and air components, the exercise aligns with NATO’s concept of multi-domain operations, but on terms increasingly defined by Turkish strategic priorities.

Countries with regional maritime interests, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and even non-littoral NATO states should take note of the scale, precision, and sovereign capability projection evident in this exercise. As Türkiye consolidates its shipbuilding and missile development industries, its ability to sustain long-range, multi-platform maritime operations grows in parallel with its geopolitical ambitions.

Through Denizkurdu-II/2025, Türkiye is issuing an unambiguous strategic message: it is no longer a supporting maritime actor but a central power in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. With over 90% of its operational fleet at sea, the use of indigenous systems like ATMACA, and extensive joint-force integration, Ankara is redefining its military posture. The emphasis on Turkish-produced technology signals a break from dependency on foreign systems, while the inclusion of legacy NATO platforms preserves a bridge to Western interoperability. In essence, this exercise embodies Türkiye’s drive toward maritime sovereignty, deterrence capability, and geopolitical autonomy. It is not merely a drill, but a clear expression of power, vision, and intent from the Turkish Republic to both friends and rivals.