Türkiye is taking a major step toward strengthening its underwater warfare capabilities with the upcoming delivery of the indigenous AKYA Heavyweight Torpedo. The program, carried out under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), aims to provide the Turkish Navy early access to nationally developed torpedoes through an “early serial production” initiative. Acceptance procedures are set to begin within weeks, with the first deliveries planned for December. As part of the package, all necessary expendables, test equipment and logistical materials will be delivered together.

Subsystem and full-system qualification tests are ongoing, and next year a warhead-equipped AKYA torpedo will be launched from a naval platform provided by the Turkish Navy for a full live-fire and detonation trial. AKYA features a fully indigenous design with an open architecture, and Türkiye owns all software, source codes and subsystem algorithms. This ensures long-term flexibility for modernization, upgrades and operational customization.

AKYA is being integrated with the MÜREN Combat Management System, installed on Preveze-class submarines. As integration progresses and serial deliveries continue, AKYA is expected to become a standard torpedo within Türkiye’s submarine fleet. The system represents a critical step toward achieving underwater warfare independence.

In parallel, Türkiye is also advancing the ORKA Lightweight Torpedo Project, developed to complement AKYA. ORKA’s initial phase focuses on preliminary design and technology development, with the goal of establishing the torpedo’s core hardware and validating its performance parameters. Following low-volume test firings, a new contract will be signed to initiate full qualification efforts.

AKYA is designed for deployment from submarines and can effectively engage both underwater and surface targets. ORKA, on the other hand, will be compatible with surface ships, helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft and even armed UAVs such as Akıncı and Aksungur. With these two programs, Türkiye is positioning itself to achieve full-spectrum domestic torpedo capability, both above and below the surface.