The "324 mm Torpedo Development Project" was initiated under the leadership of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) in order to meet the light class torpedo needs of the Naval Forces Command. With ORKA, which will be developed by Roketsan as the main contractor, foreign dependency in this area will be eliminated.

Another piece of good news to us all in the last days of the year was that an indigenous and national project in the Turkish defense industry, which continued its activities without slowing down despite the pandemic, was launched. Under the leadership of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the "324 mm Torpedo Development (ORKA) Project" was launched to meet the light class torpedo needs of the Naval Forces Command. President of the Defense Industries Prof. İsmail DEMİR, representatives of the Ministry of National Defense, the SSB, Roketsan and Aselsan attended the protocol signing ceremony held at the SSB.

The ORKA torpedo weapon system to be used against surface platforms, naval aircraft and submarines, which are currently in the inventory or to enter the inventory of the Naval Forces Command, will be developed indigenously and nationally under the project. ORKA, which will have precise guidance, navigation, advanced search and attack capabilities, will have high efficiency on the target with its resistance to deception and jamming.

Roketsan's experience in the AKYA Heavy Class Torpedo Project, the delivery of which is planned to be realized next year, will be transferred to the ORKA Project. In the ORKA Project, Roketsan will be the main contractor and Aselsan the main subcontractor. ORKA, as a national element, will gain more strength to the Turkish Armed Forces in the protection of the Blue Homeland.

President of Defense Industries Prof. İsmail DEMİR said: “We are speeding up our activities based on our President's words that we will double up our speed in the defense industry. It is not the time to stay still, each passing day is precious. We have to supply the needs of our security forces domestically, rather than procuring them from abroad. Therefore, as in every project, our companies that will conduct the project will accelerate the process. ORKA will also eliminate foreign dependency in this field. I wish success to the team that will work on the project, and I hope their efforts will increasingly continue.”

Aselsan introduced the Lightweight Torpedo ORKA for the first time during the IDEF ‘17 Fair over a mock-up. ORKA is expected to be ready by 2025.