Türkiye’s expanding role in global arms exports, defense conglomerate ROKETSAN has entered into a landmark agreement with Indonesia to jointly produce a suite of advanced weapon systems. This collaboration encompasses the co-production of the ATMACA anti-ship missile, cruise missiles, and various smart munitions, reflecting a deepening strategic alliance between Ankara and Jakarta within the Indo-Pacific defense landscape.
The agreement was announced during the 2025 Antalya Diplomacy Forum, highlighting Türkiye’s ambition to extend its defense-industrial presence in Southeast Asia. Concurrently, it enables Indonesia to enhance its indigenous capabilities in high-precision missile technology.
Speaking at the forum, ROKETSAN CEO Murat İkinci detailed the scope of the cooperation, emphasizing the joint production initiatives with Indonesian defense firms. “Under the scope of the agreement we signed with Indonesia-based defense industry companies, we will jointly produce the ATMACA anti-ship missile, cruise missiles, and a wide range of smart ammunition systems,” İkinci stated.
He further stressed that the collaboration aims to be transformational rather than merely transactional, with objectives centered on fostering strategic self-reliance within Indonesia’s defense sector. “Our priority goals include technology transfer, strengthening Indonesia’s defense industry infrastructure, and implementing comprehensive training programs,” he added.
A pivotal diplomatic development accompanying this agreement was İkinci’s bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on the sidelines of the forum. İkinci described the meeting as crucial for advancing Türkiye’s defense engagement in Southeast Asia. “We had the opportunity to meet directly with President Subianto here in Antalya,” he noted. “Enhancing the level of this cooperation is crucial for boosting our defense industry exports.”
The partnership framework outlines structured plans for technology sharing, development of localized infrastructure, and comprehensive capacity-building initiatives for Indonesian engineers and defense technicians. This approach aims to lay the groundwork for long-term indigenous development. “This cooperation provides an opportunity not only to expand Türkiye’s industrial capabilities but also to help partner countries strengthen their own defense ecosystems,” İkinci remarked.
In a related diplomatic exchange, President Prabowo held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during which he expressed Indonesia’s interest in participating in Türkiye’s fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet program and its national submarine development initiative. This reflects Jakarta’s increasing strategic alignment with Turkish defense platforms.
“Indonesia wants to participate in the development of the KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet as well as in the submarine construction project with Türkiye’s defense industry,” President Prabowo was quoted as saying by ANTARA news agency, though further details remain under wraps.
Indonesia’s confidence in Turkish defense technology is well-established. In 2024, Jakarta awarded a contract to its local company, PT Republik Defensindo, to acquire 45 ATMACA anti-ship missiles, making it the first international customer to operationally adopt the missile beyond Türkiye’s borders. Following closely, Malaysia became the second Southeast Asian nation to adopt the system, selecting the ATMACA missile for its Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch II fleet, currently being built by Turkish naval firm Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik (STM).
The ATMACA missile represents a significant advancement in maritime strike capability. With a length ranging from 4.3 to 5.2 meters, a weight of 750 kilograms, and a striking range of up to 250 kilometers, ATMACA outperforms the U.S.-made Harpoon Block II, which has a maximum range of 130 kilometers, and even surpasses the French Exocet Block III, which reaches around 200 kilometers.
Equipped with an Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance, the missile is capable of autonomous operation, boasts a low radar cross-section, and performs reliably in all-weather conditions, while being resilient against modern electronic countermeasures. Enhancing its operational flexibility, ATMACA supports 3D mission planning, mid-course target updates, and mission abort options through encrypted datalink connectivity—capabilities typically reserved for top-tier Western missile systems.
Despite being under development for over a decade, ATMACA was publicly unveiled in 2019. By 2023, Türkiye declared its intent to phase out the U.S.-supplied Harpoon missiles on its naval platforms in favor of its indigenous system. This strategic substitution aligns with Ankara’s broader doctrine of defense industrial autonomy, a goal driven by geopolitical necessity and technological ambition.
The Turkish Navy plans to retire over 350 aging Harpoon missiles and complete full-scale integration of ATMACA across its fleet by 2027, reinforcing its commitment to locally produced weapons systems. Turkish officials estimate that replacing the Harpoon with ATMACA will save the country over $500 million, with each ATMACA missile reportedly costing half as much as its American counterpart.
The increasing adoption of ATMACA across Southeast Asia not only signals growing confidence in Turkish missile technology but also highlights Türkiye’s rising status as a competitive, high-impact arms exporter in a region marked by intensifying maritime competition and strategic recalibration.
The strategic partnership between Türkiye and Indonesia in co-producing advanced weapon systems marks a significant milestone in defense collaboration. It reflects a mutual commitment to enhancing defense capabilities, fostering technological transfer, and promoting regional security. As this partnership unfolds, it is poised to contribute substantially to the defense-industrial landscapes of both nations, setting a precedent for future collaborations in the global defense sector.
