National Vertical Launch System (MİDLAS)

The National Vertical Launch System (MİDLAS) is a national vertical launch system developed by Roketsan for the Turkish Navy. The system features a multi-cell structure installed beneath the deck of warships and is capable of vertically launching various types of guided missiles. It is currently in use on the first national frigate TCG İstanbul (F-515). MİDLAS is one of the systems designed under the Mavi Vatan concept to meet the navy’s air defense and fire power capabilities using domestic resources.

A vertical launching system (VLS) is a multi-cell structure installed beneath the deck of warships from which various missiles are launched vertically and constitutes a fundamental weapon element for a ship’s firepower. Only a limited number of countries worldwide can produce such deck-integrated vertical launch systems. MİDLAS was developed by Roketsan under the leadership of the Presidency of Defense Industries to localize vertical launch systems for warships.^【1】

The Turkish Navy previously used the American-made Mark-41 vertical launch system on its Gabya and Barbaros-class frigates and had planned to install the same system on TCG İstanbul. Following the United States’ refusal to supply the system due to restrictions imposed in 2021 the MİDLAS project was accelerated and promoted as a national solution.^【2】 Weapon embargoes have previously influenced Turkey’s defense industry to pursue domestic production; it is noted that dependence on foreign suppliers and arms embargoes since the 1970s have been among the primary drivers behind efforts to enhance domestic production capacity.^【3】

MİDLAS has a modular design that varies according to the weight and dimensions of the missiles; the number of cells is scalable (8 16 32 64 etc.). The system offers two variants: “Tactical Length” and “Strike Length.” Thanks to its “quad-pack” capability which allows multiple missiles to be launched from a single cell for smaller missiles the TCG İstanbul equipped with a 16-cell MİDLAS system is capable of carrying up to 64 air defense missiles.^【4】

^{Representative schematic illustrating the deck-under vertical drop cell arrangement and main features of MIDLAS; the cell arrangement and ratios are representative and not to scale. (Image generated by artificial intelligence.)}

The first and primary missile for MİDLAS is the HİSAR-D RF a naval-adapted version of the HİSAR-O air defense missile.^【5】 Integration efforts for additional missiles are ongoing; official statements mention SİPER and SAPAN air defense missiles as well as the ATMACA anti-ship missile for inclusion in the system.^【6】 Thus MİDLAS aims to enable the launch of missiles for different mission types such as air defense and anti-ship warfare from a single system.

The first live firing test of MİDLAS from land was conducted on 3 December 2022 during which a HİSAR missile was successfully launched.^【7】 The system has been integrated onto the first national frigate TCG İstanbul (F-515). In a 2024 firing test from TCG İstanbul the HİSAR-D RF missile was launched marking the first time a national air defense missile was fired from a naval platform using a national launcher. During this activity the ship’s national combat management system ADVENT was used in conjunction with other radar sensor and fire control systems and the system successfully completed sea acceptance trials.^【8】

On 27 September 2025 the SİPER-1D air defense missile with a range exceeding 100 kilometers was fired from MİDLAS. Official statements noted that with this launch Türkiye joined the select group of countries capable of launching their own long-range air defense missile from their own ship using their own launcher.^【9】 Work continues on integrating additional missiles with the system.^【10】

MİDLAS is a national vertical launch system developed to replace previously foreign-origin vertical launch systems such as the Mark-41 used by the Turkish Navy and enables the launch of national missiles using a national launcher.^【11】 Integration efforts for the HİSAR-D RF missile as well as the SİPER and SAPAN air defense missiles and the ATMACA anti-ship missile are ongoing and the system is currently in service on TCG İstanbul.^【12】