Embark on a journey with me as we set sail through the tumultuous tides of 2023. In this week-long blog series, I will try exploring the significant naval developments that shaped the maritime landscape from my point of view.
For me, one of the naval highlights 2023 was the test firing of the Akya heavy-weight torpedo (HWT) at the end of the year. This test firing, featuring a live warhead, resulted in the sinking of the decommissioned tug ex-TCG Gazal, which had served for 43 years. In her earlier career, she had served in the US Navy as USS Sioux for 30 years.
This is a shorter version of the official video.
The story of Akya began in 2009 when a contract for the heavy-weight torpedo development program’s first phase was signed between the Turkish Naval Research Center Command, Tübitak, Roketsan, and the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, amounting to 24 million euros for developing and prototyping a heavy-weight torpedo.
The first torpedo test firing occurred on July 11, 2013, from a surface platform with a single 533mm torpedo tube installed. In 2016, a second contract was signed between the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and the main contractor Roketsan for the second phase, aiming to industrialize the Akya HWT and prepare the industrial infrastructure for serial production. Phase 2 concluded when Roketsan commenced the low-rate initial production of the submarine in 2021.
According to the magazine Defense Turkey, more than 60 test firings were conducted between 2013 and 2021 from a specially designed underwater platform to test various subsystems of the torpedo during the development of Akya.
Akya HWT is a dual-purpose torpedo effective against both surface and submarine targets, equipped with a two-way fiber-optic cable. The high-energy chemical battery on board powers a brushless DC electrical motor that moves the counter-rotating propellers. The torpedo features an active/passive acoustic sonar, a magnetic proximity sensor, and a wake sensor for wake-homing. The warhead is optimized for the underwater shock effect, creating a secondary water bubble that lifts the surface target out of the water to damage or break the target’s keel. Roketsan indicates Akya’s range as 50+ kilometres with a speed of 45+ knots.
Turkish submarines currently use Mk14, Mk23, Mk37 Mod 2, Mk37 Mod 3, SST-4 Mod 0, and Mk24 Mod 2 Tigerfish heavy-weight torpedoes. The Akya HWT is intended to replace these ageing systems. Since Akya has undergone extensive testing and development, with direct inputs from end-users, it is expected to have higher fidelity among the submarine community.
Another benefit offered by Akya is its easy integration into the Müren submarine combat management system. Before the introduction of Müren, integrating new weapon systems into legacy submarine combat management systems was difficult, time-consuming, and expensive due to the German origin of the software. Akya torpedoes will be integrated into Preveze class submarines first, as their legacy CMS is being replaced with Müren CMS during their mid-life upgrade. The two Ay class submarines, TCG Doğanay and TCG Dolunay, which have received the Müren CMS, will also likely be fitted with the Akya heavy-weight torpedo.
devrimyaylali.com 
Bonsoir,
En source ouverte, et pour répondre a votre a votre article ?
La marine turque dispose d’une flotte de 12 sous-marins composés de quatre de la classe Ay (Type 209/1200), quatre de la classe Preveze (Type 209T/1400) et quatre de la classe Gür (Type 209T2/1400), tous de propulsion conventionnelle (diesel-électrique).
En 2027, la Turquie disposera de six sous-marins de classe AIP Reis. La classe Reis profitera non seulement à la marine turque, mais également à la technologie de défense et à l’industrie de la Turquie.
Les connaissances et l’expérience acquises dans ce projet constitueront une solide référence pour les sous-marins indigènes qui seront construits dans le cadre du projet de sous-marin national (MİLDEN), actuellement en phase de conception, et dont la construction est prévue pour les années 2030. Ce projet intéresse de nombreux sous-traitants turcs, tels que ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, MilSOFT, Defence Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc.
(STM), Koç Information and Defense, le Conseil turc de la recherche scientifique et technologique (TÜBİTAK) et AYESAŞ qui travaillent sur les sous-systèmes des sous-marins de classe Reis, tels que le système de navigation et de gestion des données, la liaison de données, le système de contre-mesures pour les torpilles, etc.
À propos des sous-marins de classe Reis
Les sous-marins de classe Reis présentent une conception de coque unique et l’adoptiod l’AIP avec la pile à combustible éprouvée Howaldswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW). Les sous-marins ont une longueur de 68,35 mètres, un diamètre extérieur de 6,3 mètres, un déplacement de 1 850 tonnes et un équipage de 40 personnes.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems a construit les sous-marins de classe Reis (initialement connus sous le nom de Type 214 TN) au chantier naval de Golcuk en Turquie. Le système AIP utilise la technologie des piles à combustible, des piles à combustible PEM (2x120kw) et des batteries haute capacité (2 × 324 unités). Cela donne au sous-marin la possibilité d’effectuer des déploiements de longue durée sans avoir besoin de chargesen immersio profonde.
Les sous-marins seront armés de torpilles lourdes (MK48 Mod 6AT et DM2A4), de missiles anti-navires (Sub-Harpoon) et de mines. La torpille lourde indigène Akya et le missile antinavire Atmaca devraient être embarqués sur les prochains sous-marins du projet. Le sous-marin de classe Reis pourra effectuer des missions dans les eaux littorales comme des patrouilles océaniques, sera aptes à des missions anti-surface et anti-sous-marines comme à l’appui des forces spéciales. Parmi ses atouts, une forte immersion maximale et une combinaison modulaire d’armes et de senseurs.
Meilleurs voeux, pour l’année 2024.
Pascal l.