Turkey announces plans to develop a nuclear-powered submarine

On April 30, 2026, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler confirmed that Turkey has officially initiated the design phase for a nuclear-powered submarine. The project is intended to bolster Turkey's naval deterrence capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean and surrounding maritime regions. Minister Guler stated that a formal timeline for the feasibility study, design, and production stages has been established. The initiative aims to enhance the Turkish defense industry by incorporating long-range capabilities and stealth technology. Ankara has expressed openness to collaborating with friendly nations and NATO allies for the development of nuclear propulsion systems. Simultaneously, the program emphasizes the integration of national, domestic technologies to meet current operational requirements. These defense needs are derived from Turkey's national military strategy and continuous threat assessments of the regional security environment.