Indonesia has awarded a contract to local defense company PT Republik Defensindo for the acquisition of an initial batch of Atmaca anti-ship guided missiles from Turkey. Janes reported that the Indonesian Navy as the first export customer for the Atmaca, a precision-strike weapon jointly developed by Turkish defense Roketsan and Aselsan, along with turbine engine manufacturer Kale Arge. The contract includes the procurement of 45 Atmaca missile rounds, complete with associated launcher units and user terminals. PT Republik Defensindo, serving as the local intermediary, will play a crucial role in facilitating the integration of this advanced guided missile system into Indonesia’s naval forces. As Indonesia steps into the realm of advanced naval warfare capabilities with the Atmaca missiles, this procurement marks a strategic move that enhances the country’s maritime security posture and strengthens its defense capabilities on the international stage.
The Atmaca (Accipiter) stands out as an all-weather, long-range, precision-strike anti-ship cruise missile, designed to gradually replace Turkey’s existing inventory of Harpoon missiles. Weighing 750 kg each, the Atmaca boasts a 5.2 m missile airframe with a 1.4 m wingspan and a formidable 220 kg high-explosive warhead. With a striking distance exceeding 220 km, the missile’s capabilities were validated in a successful live test fire conducted by Turkey in February 2021, with the missile launched from the Ada-class corvette TCG K?nal?ada. The Atmaca’s guidance system is a testament to its technological sophistication, employing an inertial navigation system (INS) and a Global Positioning System (GPS) during flight. The missile homes onto its target using an active radar seeker, combining GPS, barometric altimeter, and radar altimeter to navigate with precision. Its ultra sea-skimming feature as it approaches the target enhances its threat potential for targets beyond the line of sight.
The roots of the Atmaca program trace back to 2009 when Turkey’s Undersecretary for Defense Industries (SSM) signed a contract with Roketsan. The prime contractor, Roketsan, initiated design studies in September 2012, envisioning a surface-to-surface cruise missile capable of multi-platform launches, including warships, submarines, aircraft, and coastal batteries, serving in land-attack operations. After successful land-based firings in March 2017, the serial production contract was signed between Roketsan and the Presidency of Defense Industry on October 29, 2018. This advanced missile system is slated for deployment on various Turkish Navy vessels, including Ada-class corvettes, Istanbul-class frigates, G-class frigates, and the planned TF-2000-class destroyers. The TF-2000-class destroyer is a projected anti-air warfare guided-missile destroyer currently undergoing development by the Turkish Naval Institute.
