ATMACA Anti-Ship Missile

The ATMACA Anti-Ship Missile is a high-precision anti-ship missile developed by Türkiye with domestic and national capabilities, designed for use on water over operation. Developed by Roketsan, ATMACA is a defense system aimed at enhancing the defense and offensive capabilities of Turkish Sea Forces. This missile, integrated into the Turkish Armed Forces inventory, features high range, low-altitude cruise capability, and superior target tracking like.

^{ROKETSAN - ATMACA Anti-Ship Missile (Credit:} roketsan.com⁾

The development of ATMACA was initiated in 2009 under Roketsan’s main leadership, through collaboration with Turkish defense industry companies such as ASELSAN and ARMERKOM. The project was developed using domestic and national capabilities to meet the Turkish Naval Forces’ requirement for an anti-ship missile. Following successful successful tests in 2018, the Series Production Agreement was signed in 2019. ATMACA has positioned Türkiye among the five countries in the world capable of producing their own anti-ship missiles.

ATMACA minimizes the likelihood of detection by radar by flying at very low altitudes above sea level. This capability, known as Super Sea Skimming, enables the missile to approach its target at low altitude, significantly reducing the time available for target platforms to detect the missile. Flying at a speed of 0.85 Mach, the missile leaves minimal time for target reaction before impact.

The active radar seeker and inertial navigation system (INS) ensure accurate target acquisition and tracking even if GPS signals are jammed or interrupted. This makes ATMACA resilient to electronic countermeasures.

The initial integration of ATMACA was carried out on naval platforms such as the Milgem-class corvettes and Gabya-class frigates. The missile has been successfully integrated into the Turkish Naval Forces’ inventory, with its first launch conducted from the TCG KINALIADA corvette. Additionally, plans are underway to integrate ATMACA with Turkish F-16 fighter jets. This will enable ATMACA to engage targets not only from maritime platforms but also from the air, transforming it into a system system.

The first test launch of ATMACA was conducted on 4 November 2019 from the TCG KINALIADA corvette. The first live warhead launch occurred on 4 February 2021, and on 18 June 2021, the decommissioned TCG IŞIN vessel was successfully hit during a test in the Black Sea. These tests demonstrated the effectiveness and reliability of ATMACA.

ATMACA is a critical system that enhances the strength and maritime defense capability of the Turkish Naval Forces. Its features—including a 250 km range, low radar signature, high target hit precision, and low-altitude flight capability—provide significant advantages when compared to other anti-ship missiles worldwide. The missile offers a substantial upgrade over older foreign systems such as Harpoon and Exocet.

The development and integration of ATMACA reflect Türkiye’s determination to achieve independence and self-sufficiency in its defense industry. Furthermore, with the deployment of ATMACA, the Turkish Navy now possesses an effective strike capability against both surface and land targets.

Future versions of ATMACA will be adapted for use on different platforms such as submarines and coastal defense batteries, expanding its operational scope. Additionally, the capability to be launched from torpedo tubes as a cruise missile is among the anticipated features for subsequent generations of this missile.

^{ATMACA Anti-Ship Missile during launch from a ship (Credit:} roketsan.com⁾

• Range: 250 km
• Length: 4.3 – 5.2 m
• Weight: Less than 750 kg
• Warhead Weight: 220 kg
• Engine: Initially powered by the French Safran TR40 turbojet engine; future versions are planned to use the domestic Kale Arge KTJ-3200 turbojet engine.
• Guidance System: Inertial Navigation System (INS), Global Positioning System (GPS), barometric and radar altimeters
• Seeker: Active RF radar seeker
• Targeting Method: Engages moving surface targets and fixed land targets with target update and re-attack capabilities

• Autonomous Operation
• Long Range
• Low Radar Signature
• High Target Hit Precision
• Resistant to Countermeasures
• Target Update, Re-Attack, and Mission Abort via Data Link
• Three-Dimensional Mission Planning
• Time-on-Target [ToT], Distributed Time-on-Target [DToT], Simultaneous Time-on-Target [SToT], and Salvo Launch
• Engagement of Land and Surface Targets from Sea and Subsurface Platforms
• Re-Attack Mode
• Engagement of Surface and Land Targets from Sea, Subsurface, and Land Platforms

^{ATMACA Anti-Ship Missile launched from a submarine, 12.03.2025. (Credit:} Demirören News Agency⁾