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Türkiye has officially designated its planned nuclear-powered submarine program as NUKDEN, marking a significant milestone in the country's ambitious naval modernization efforts, officials announced at the 12th Naval Systems Seminar in Istanbul.
Rear Admiral Timur Yilmaz, commander of the submarine fleet, confirmed that NUKDEN—an abbreviation derived from "nuclear submarine" in Turkish—represents a strategic shift from the previously emphasized the National Submarine (MILDEN) initiative toward nuclear propulsion capabilities.
"The security of our nation, our deterrence posture, the extent of our jurisdiction and areas of interest, and the support required for task groups led by our national aircraft carrier necessitate the acquisition of a nuclear submarine," Rear Admiral Yilmaz explained during the seminar.
The announcement aligns with previous statements by Adm. Ercument Tatlioglu, commander of the Turkish naval forces, who told Warships International Fleet Review that Türkiye would build nuclear-powered submarines.
In his earlier interview, Admiral Tatlioglu stated: "Building a submarine that meets all our operational needs, with a design and construction process entirely under our control, free from foreign dependency, has been a national aspiration for 139 years. After MILDEN, we will take an important step for nuclear-powered submarines."
Rear Admiral Yilmaz outlined the comprehensive involvement of Türkiye's academic and defense-industrial ecosystem in several key development areas:
Turkish academic institutions are reportedly contributing research and development across all these fields, reflecting the project's national priority status.
Turkish analysts on aviation, space, and defense policies and technologies Arda Mevlutoglu argue on social media platform X that building a nuclear submarine is way more complicated than as it might seem, Türkiye might need "an active nuclear submarine reactor, control system", "personnel who saw a nuclear submarine maintenance, repair and sustainment facilities with his own eyes."
Adding that, "Personnel who spent at least 72 hours at sea on an operational nuclear submarine, these can be a starting point by bringing individuals together and producing these individuals if they do not exist."
Stating that "this is a matter of 'how' as much as it is a matter of feasibility," in another tweet, Mevlutoglu noted, "Countries that build nuclear submarines with their own resources are also permanent members of the U.N. Security Council."
There is a lot to think about when it comes to nuclear submarines. For example, there is also the issue of cooling. The pump must be running constantly to cool the nuclear reactor. This is incompatible with the submarine's main weapon, silence. However, when it can be done, it'll surely enhance Türkiye's naval operations, providing extended operational depth in strategically relevant areas such as the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
When questioned about the reactor type for NUKDEN submarines, Yilmaz noted that feasibility studies and design evaluations remain ongoing. The Naval Forces Journal previously highlighted Türkiye's growing interest in molten salt reactors (MSRs) as a potential solution, emphasizing their compact structure and suitability for maritime nuclear applications.
The NUKDEN announcement does not replace the ongoing MILDEN program, which was initiated in 2010 and coordinated by the Turkish Naval Research Center Command (ARMERKOM).
The MILDEN project features:
Admiral Tatlioglu previously indicated that MILDEN submarines would be offered for export to allied and friendly nations following operational demonstration.
Nuclear submarine capability remains accessible to only a select group of nations, including the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and India. Türkiye's entry into this exclusive capability would significantly enhance its naval deterrence and power projection abilities.
The knowledge gained from nuclear submarine development could benefit other maritime projects, potentially strengthening the Turkish Navy's capabilities across various platforms, including its planned aircraft carrier program.
Officials have not disclosed specific timelines for the NUKDEN project or when the first nuclear submarine might enter service. The program represents what officials describe as both a defense industry investment and an academic-industrial national development initiative.
The project emphasizes maintaining continuity in submarine construction at Golcuk Shipyard, which has been active for nearly 50 years and will preserve submarine construction capabilities for future generations following the completion of Reis Class submarines.
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