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Türkiye's National Submarine (MILDEN) project is planned to be completed and delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces in 2032, according to officials from ASFAT.
ASFAT, the state defense company serving as the project's main contractor, displayed the submarine's first test block at Teknofest Blue Homeland.
"We are currently working on the first phase of the MILDEN project. Allah willing, it will be completed on time and delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces. The planned delivery date is already 2032. We believe it will be finished on time. We are currently in the first phase," ASFAT General Manager Mustafa Ilbas said.
Ilbas said the test block displayed at Teknofest, the first public exhibition of the block, will undergo both destructive and non-destructive testing before the project moves into subsequent phases and production.
"This is an important project for Türkiye. It's very important to mention it here at Teknofest, at the Blue Homeland event. Right behind us is the test block of our National Submarine project, for which we are the main contractor. It's being exhibited here for the first time," he said.
"Some destructive and non-destructive tests will be carried out on this test block. After these tests, we will move on to the other phases and production. So we are currently working on the first phase of the MILDEN project. It's progressing successfully," the ASFAT general manager noted.
The submarine, built under ASFAT's main contractorship, is planned to measure more than 80 meters in length, with a displacement of approximately 2,700 tons and a mission endurance of more than 50 days.
Ilbas said MILDEN's most important feature will be its air-independent propulsion system.
"MILDEN's most important feature will actually be its air-independent propulsion system. In addition to conventional engines, it will also use hydrogen-based, air-independent power. That's its most important aspect. Having an air-independent, hybrid structure is very significant. Beyond that, this project also stands out for its weapon systems and other technologies. It's a very valuable project and it's progressing successfully," he said.
Erdemir, part of the OYAK group of companies, will produce the steel used to build MILDEN, according to Erdemir General Manager Saban Yazici, who spoke to state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) at the event.
"We are currently producing steel for new-generation submarines. Our newly built national submarine will be manufactured using this steel," Yazici said.
He said Erdemir produces what are known as HY-80 and HY-100 grade next-generation submarine steels, and that the company is the only firm in Türkiye manufacturing these products, making Türkiye one of only five countries worldwide capable of producing this grade of steel.
Yazici emphasized the strategic importance of domestic steel production for the defense industry.
"It's not enough just to procure the material, it also needs to be localized. In the U.S./Israel-Iran War, we saw that the first places to be destroyed were iron and steel facilities," he said, adding, "That's because iron and steel facilities produce the steel used in missiles, submarines, tanks and aircraft carriers. So Erdemir is also a strategic iron and steel facility."
Yazici said Erdemir developed and produced the roughly 40,000 tons of steel needed for MUGEM, Türkiye's National Aircraft Carrier, using its EH460-grade ship steel, which the company said is distinguished by high strength, superior toughness, weldability and formability.
He said the steel used in MUGEM's hull and deck was produced at Türkiye's first and only plate rolling mill.
Yazici said Erdemir's participation at Teknofest Blue Homeland, showcasing both the aircraft carrier and submarine steel products, helped the company identify shared markets and areas of collaboration with other firms in the defense sector, noting Erdemir is now focusing research and development efforts on substitute steel grades that currently must be imported, aiming to eventually produce them domestically.
Havelsan General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar said his company is working to equip MILDEN with artificial intelligence capabilities as part of efforts to strengthen the submarine with domestic technologies.
Nacar said Havelsan is building a system to process data flowing through MILDEN using AI, aiming to integrate its AI-powered ADVENT MUREN operational intelligence system into the submarine.
"Through this integration, we will provide AI support capable not only of managing everything from sensors to weapons, but also of assessing the impact of environmental and intelligence data from all auxiliary systems on operations," Nacar said.
"We expect to take on the role of combat system integrator for all national weapons and sensors developed under the National Submarine project, thanks to our extensive field experience and domain expertise both domestically and internationally," he added.
Nacar said underwater autonomous navigation will be one of the most important systems that needs to be localized for MILDEN, and that Havelsan has begun research and development on the submarine's steering control system, noting that the preparations are also underway for a submarine training simulator, noting that Havelsan previously developed the Preveze/Gur-class submarine diving simulator currently in use at Golcuk Naval Shipyard Command.
Nacar said Havelsan has developed the fire control system for Roketsan's submarine-launched, capsule-based ATMACA cruise missile, fully integrated with the national ADVENT combat management system, and that this capability is ready for use on MILDEN.
He said Havelsan has also developed the fire control system for the torpedoes used by Turkish submarines, and that MILDEN's national AKYA torpedo fire control system will be able to operate in full integration with ADVENT MUREN, incorporating AI-supported functions.
Nacar said Havelsan produces submarine information distribution systems, functioning as a kind of central nervous system linking all onboard systems and enabling remote control of certain systems, and that this technology is ready to be used on MILDEN as well.
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