SINKEX: Turkiye’s first indigenous heavyweight torpedo AKYA sinks target at live test – Naval News
On December 27, 2023, the Turkish Navy successfully carried out the first live firing test of the Roketsan-made AKYA heavyweight torpedo with a real warhead in the East Mediterranean.
The launch platform was TCG Preveze (S-353), the leading Preveze-class (Type 209/1400) boat, which was recently upgraded with the homegrown MÜREN Combat Management System as part of the “MÜREN PREVEZE” project. The target was the ex-TCG Gazal (ex-USS Sioux), a Navajo-class fleet tugboat that served the Turkish Navy and the U.S. Navy for decades.
Just a few minutes after launching, AKYA managed to sink the target in a short time. It should also be noted that AKYA was launched and controlled by the MÜREN combat management system.
Turkish Ministry of Defence announced the successful test-firing of AKYA HWT on its social media accounts hours after the test. The ministry underlined that this test was another milestone for an independent defence industry.
After this test with the real warhead, AKYA HWT achieved initial operational capability. The previous submarine-launched tests of the torpedo were conducted by;
- TCG Gür in the Sea of Marmara on January 20,
- TCG Preveze on March 14, 2023, in the Sea of Marmara.
These tests were conducted without warhead.
About AKYA Heavyweight Torpedo
AKYA is a new generation heavyweight torpedo launched from submarines to engage submarines and surface targets of various types. It is a high-speed, long-range torpedo that is fully autonomous or controlled via fiber-optic cable and has an active/passive sonar homing head. In addition, AKYA has wake vortex control for surface targets.
AKYA, which operates at high speeds and long ranges, has an active/passive sonar head, while internal control is via internal and fiber optic cables. It uses wake steering against surface targets.
Technical features:
- Range: 50+ km
- Speed: 45+ kts
- Fuse: Proximity/Impact
- Warhead: Insensitive Warhead with Underwater Shock Effect
- Launch Type: Swim-out
- Guidance: Active/Passive Sonar Head with Acoustic Countermeasure Capability and Wake Homing
- Guidance Mode: Self Guidance, Onboard Guidance via fiberoptic cable
- Propulsion System: Brushless DC Electrical Motor + Counter-rotating Propeller System
- Battery: High-Energy Chemical Battery
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