Türkiye has committed to procuring a significant number of ground-launched long-range Atmaca cruise missiles, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska said on Tuesday, as allies seek to expand defence production and strengthen long-range strike capabilities.
Speaking at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum, Shekerinska said six allies had also joined an initiative for the large-scale development and procurement of low-cost ground-launched cruise missiles.
Shekerinska added that, together with 155 mm ammunition projects, the total value of the initiatives had reached approximately $1.6 billion.
The announcement came as NATO allies gathered in the Turkish capital for the July 7-8 summit, where defence industrial capacity, ammunition production, deterrence and support for Ukraine are among the central agenda items.
Boosting defence production
The NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum brings together senior alliance officials, allied and partner representatives, and industry leaders to discuss defence production, investment and innovation at a time when the alliance is pressing members to replenish stocks and increase output.
The Atmaca family, developed by Turkish defence firm Roketsan, is among Türkiye’s key domestically produced missile programmes. The ground-launched Atmaca system is designed as a long-range cruise missile launched from tactical wheeled vehicles against strategic ground targets.
According to Roketsan, the missile features high-precision strike capability, resistance to countermeasures, all-weather operational capability, mission planning, target update, retargeting and mission abort functions via data link.
Türkiye has in recent years expanded its defence industry output across missiles, drones, air defence systems, armored vehicles and ammunition, while positioning its domestic defence sector as a contributor to NATO’s collective deterrence and industrial resilience.
