Turkish Navy Commander confirms plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines after actual Reis-class.

As reported by TurDef on May 1, 2025, in an interview with Warships International Fleet Review, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, has declared: “We will also take a crucial step towards constructing nuclear-powered submarines, essential for our long-term submarine deterrence capability and vision of being a mid-scale power with global influence.” The statement was made in the context of Türkiye’s broader naval development plans and ongoing submarine construction programs at Gölcük Shipyard.
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Tatlıoğlu linked this future ambition with the continuity of submarine construction following the completion of the Reis class and the future MILDEN (Milli Denizaltı – National Submarine) project. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The foundation for these plans is being developed in parallel with Türkiye’s civilian nuclear energy program. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, currently under construction in Mersin Province, is being built by Russia’s state-owned Rosatom under a build-own-operate (BOO) model. The facility includes four VVER-1200 pressurized water reactors, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts. Construction began in 2018. The first unit is expected to become operational in 2025, and the remaining units are scheduled for completion by 2028. Once fully operational, the plant is projected to meet approximately 10% of Türkiye’s total electricity demand. The BOO model has raised concerns within NATO circles due to the facility’s full foreign ownership and its proximity to strategic sites such as the Incirlik Air Base and NATO’s ballistic missile defense radar at Kürecik. Turkish authorities have contingency plans to assume control of the plant in scenarios where national security considerations require such measures.

In addition to Akkuyu, Türkiye is planning further nuclear power facilities. Discussions with Russia and South Korea are ongoing regarding a second plant in Sinop, and separate negotiations are underway with China for a third facility in the Thrace region. These projects are part of Türkiye’s stated objective to reach 20 gigawatts of nuclear power generation capacity by 2050. In parallel, Türkiye is pursuing the integration of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) into its energy portfolio, with a target of 5 gigawatts of SMR capacity by the same year. The strategic and technical implications of SMRs have been explored in Turkish military publications. The October 2024 issue (No. 656) of the Turkish Naval Forces Magazine included an article titled “The Impact of Nuclear-Powered Submarines on the Theatre of War.” It noted that countries advancing in SMR development could acquire strategic advantages in the energy sector. The article identified Türkiye as engaged in R&D efforts related to SMRs, including Molten Salt Reactors, though it did not state any official naval application.

In the same publication, Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Dr. Ahmet İşçi discussed the operational characteristics of nuclear-powered submarines. In the January 2025 issue (No. 657), he authored a follow-up analysis titled “A Study of the US Virginia-Class Submarine Project.” The text examined the role of SMRs in modern submarine platforms and the differences between nuclear and conventional propulsion systems. According to the article, nuclear propulsion addresses two operational limitations of conventional submarines: the need to snorkel and limitations on sustained speed. Nuclear propulsion allows extended submerged operations without surfacing and enables higher-speed cruising. The article also noted that ventilation systems using oxygen ionization and reduced internal volume allocated to fuel tanks can increase internal space for equipment and payloads. İşçi described the operational realities of conventional submarines and highlighted detection challenges from modern radar and unmanned aerial vehicles, suggesting that nuclear propulsion could mitigate these risks. He also referenced the U.S. Navy’s “clearing the way” doctrine for carrier group operations, suggesting that nuclear-powered submarines may be better suited for this role than conventional ones.

Türkiye’s ongoing MILDEN project, developed by ASFAT and the Turkish Navy’s Project Design Office, is intended to be fully indigenous. Tatlıoğlu described the objective as reducing foreign dependency by designing and building a submarine that meets national operational requirements. The platform is expected to feature vertical launch cells. A MILDEN model with vertical launchers was publicly shown at SAHA EXPO 2024. Additionally, ROKETSAN’s Launcher Systems Manager confirmed during Euronaval 2024 that a version of the MIDLAS Vertical Launch System is being developed for submarine use. The propulsion type for MILDEN has not been disclosed, but public discussion suggests that the first version could use lithium-ion battery-supported Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP). A second-generation model may incorporate nuclear propulsion depending on the direction of future research and development.

Tatlıoğlu also described the capabilities of the Reis-class submarines, which are currently under construction and are derived from the German Type 214 platform. They use an AIP system based on domestically produced liquid hydrogen fuel cells and are equipped with advanced sonar, satellite communication systems, floating antennas, and systems for mine-laying and special operations. According to Tatlıoğlu, the class is armed with Akya torpedoes, Atmaca and Gezgin cruise missiles, and Malaman naval mines, all domestically developed. The submarines can remain submerged for up to 14 days. The entry of the Reis class into service lowers the average age of the fleet and enhances the operational availability of the submarine force. TCG PiriReis was commissioned in 2024, with other units in the series at various stages of construction and sea trials.

The Turkish Navy’s submarine fleet has developed through multiple phases of procurement and production since the Republic's early years. Between the 1920s and 1940s, Türkiye acquired submarines from Germany, Italy, and Spain. These included the Type UB III (Birinci and İkinci İnönü), Italian-built Argonauta and Vettor Pisani derivatives, and the Type IA-derived Gür. During and after World War II, Türkiye took delivery of Balao-class and Tench-class submarines from the United States. Many were modified under the GUPPY IA, IIA, and III modernization programs and served into the Cold War. Submarines from this period included TCG Dumlupınar, TCG Uluçalireis, and TCG Pirireis, among others.

From the 1970s onward, Türkiye shifted to domestic construction under license. The Atılay-class submarines, based on the German Type 209/1200, were the first domestically built at Gölcük Naval Shipyard. Subsequent classes included the Preveze (Type 209/1400) and Gür (Type 209T2/1400). Today, the active fleet includes 13 attack submarines: two Atılay-class, four Preveze-class, four Gür-class, and the first Reis-class submarine commissioned in 2024. Five additional Reis-class units are expected to follow by 2029. Construction of submarines at Gölcük has continued for nearly 50 years and is described by Tatlıoğlu as a central component of sustaining national submarine-building capacity for future generations, including the potential development of nuclear-powered platforms.