Turkey is moving ahead with plans to design a nuclear-powered submarine, according to Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, who outlined the project in a written response to a parliamentary question.
Turkish media reported that Güler said a timeline is already in place covering the design, production and feasibility stages of the programme.
He said the initiative forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s deterrence capabilities, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean and nearby maritime regions.
Ankara is also seeking to expand its naval capacity by developing long-range submarines with advanced stealth features, while continuing to build up its domestic defence industry across multiple sectors.
Güler noted that the Turkish Navy remains open to cooperation with “friendly and allied countries”, especially NATO member states, in the field of nuclear propulsion. At the same time, he stressed that work is ongoing to incorporate domestic and “national” technologies into the programme.
He added that the operational needs of Turkey’s armed forces are determined based on the country’s national military strategy, threat assessments in surrounding seas and the wider region, as well as the prevailing politico-military environment.
“Within the framework of ongoing National Submarine and Nuclear Submarine programmes, the goal of constructing a domestically designed submarine and a nuclear-powered submarine is part of our country’s vision to increase its deterrence against regional threats in the Eastern Mediterranean and surrounding seas, and to become a global power,” Güler said.
Source: CNA