Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler responded to a parliamentary question regarding nuclear submarine projects.
Minister of National Defence Güler:
“The goal of building domestically designed submarines and nuclear-powered submarines under the ongoing National Submarine (MİLDEN) and Nuclear Submarine (NÜKDEN) projects is part of our country’s vision to enhance its deterrence against regional threats in the Eastern Mediterranean and surrounding seas and to become a global power.”
“The Republic of Turkiye aims to expand its defense industry across various sectors to enhance its naval power, and while it targets the construction of submarines with long-range capabilities and high stealth features, a timeline has already been established for the design, production, and feasibility studies of nuclear-powered submarines.”
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The Turkish Navy is open to cooperation with all friendly and allied nations, particularly NATO member states, regarding nuclear propulsion technology, and continues its efforts to utilize domestic and national technology in the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Project, just as it does across all platforms.”
“The operational requirements of our forces are determined in accordance with Turkiye’s National Military Strategy, based on a threat analysis of the seas and the region, and within the framework of the political-military context. The force structure and selection of compatible platforms to counter potential maritime threats, as identified through these analyses, form the foundation of the project planning phase.”
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Currently, only six nations (the US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and India) operate nuclear-powered submarines. However, looking at ongoing global projects, this exclusive club is about to expand. With Australia (via AUKUS) and Brazil (PROSUB ) expected to become the 7th and 8th members, and North and South Korea signaling their own ambitions with official programs, Turkiye’s goal to join the top 10-12 nations with nuclear propulsion capabilities is becoming a much more concrete vision.
Saying that the Turkish navy's vision after the Tepe-class missile destroyers and the Milden national AIP attack submarine is now aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines is, no longer speculation but a concrete reality based on a real roadmap. However, catapult studies on aircraft carriers, and which class of nuclear submarine is meant are still areas where we can argue, fight and speculate amongst ourselves.
(side note: In this context, the recent "Strategic Partnership Framework Document" signed with the UK is particularly noteworthy. While it’s primarily a roadmap for defense, energy, and high-tech cooperation, the timing is hard to ignore. It comes right as the UK is exploring new cooperation models for nuclear propulsion (such as the PWR3+ tech for AUKUS), signaling a potential shift in how these sensitive technologies are managed between allies. Ultimately, this agreement reflects Turkiye's intent to harmonize its tech ambitions with global partnerships. It creates a diplomatic and technical foundation that could prove vital if new doors open in the realm of nuclear propulsion.)
