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The Turkish navy has successfully upgraded its fleet of British-made Tigerfish torpedoes, replacing their aging warheads with domestically produced ones developed by Roketsan.
Reportedly, this significant upgrade not only extends the lifespan of the torpedoes but also demonstrates Türkiye's growing defense capabilities in modernizing military equipment with indigenous technologies.
The Tigerfish torpedoes were originally acquired by the Turkish navy in the early 1990s, with each torpedo costing approximately $840,000. However, as the warheads reached the end of their operational life, a collaboration between Roketsan and the Turkish navy’s command led to the development of new, locally produced warheads. These updated warheads, now integrated into the torpedoes, significantly extend their operational lifespan.
The upgraded Tigerfish torpedoes are now back in the Turkish navy’s inventory, ready to be deployed on submarine platforms. With modern warheads, the torpedoes are poised to serve in a range of naval operations, bolstering Türkiye's underwater warfare capabilities.
The decision to replace the warheads with locally produced technology has resulted in significant cost savings for the Turkish Navy.
Modern Tigerfish torpedoes now cost approximately $3 million to $3.5 million per unit, a sharp increase from the initial cost of $840,000 per unit in 1994. By opting for domestically produced warheads, Türkiye has saved millions of dollars, while also enhancing its military self-sufficiency.
In addition to the Tigerfish upgrades, Roketsan has continued its deliveries of the domestic AKYA heavy torpedo. This locally developed torpedo is a key component of Türkiye's modern underwater warfare strategy. As of May 2024, the Turkish navy has carried out 54 test shots with the AKYA torpedo.
The AKYA torpedo, which has a range of over 50 kilometers and a speed exceeding 45 knots, is designed to target both submarines and surface vessels. It is equipped with advanced guidance systems, including active/passive sonar and acoustic countermeasure capabilities, making it a formidable weapon in the Turkish Navy’s arsenal.
The integration of the AKYA torpedo into existing Turkish submarine platforms has been made possible with the introduction of the Portable Fire Control Unit, allowing for easy adaptation to foreign submarine management systems. Currently, all GUr and Preveze-class submarines are equipped to launch the AKYA torpedo.
In December 2023, a successful test firing of the AKYA torpedo was carried out from the TCG Preveze submarine, hitting the target, the G/M Gazal vessel, from a distance of approximately 12,000 yards (about 11 kilometers) with direct impact.
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