Türkiye’s domestically developed MILDEN submarine project will be equipped with military-grade HY-100 steel produced locally by Turkish industrial group OYAK.

OYAK General Manager Murat Yalcintas said that international suppliers frequently impose export restrictions on steel of this type, making domestic production essential for achieving deep-submergence capabilities, The Caspian Post reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Speaking on the sidelines of TEKNOFEST Southeast, Yalcintas said iron ore extracted in Türkiye is processed at domestic facilities and turned into high-value-added products within the country.

“HY-100 is a highly durable steel with unique properties, allowing a submarine to dive to depths far deeper than the norm. It is not possible to import steel of this caliber produced at the highest quality, so with the steel that we produce, Turkish submarines will be able to reach the depths they need,” he said.

Yalcintas said OYAK is also directing its investment strategy toward dual-use technologies serving both military and commercial sectors. These include high-performance armored and structural steels manufactured at domestic facilities and currently used in Türkiye’s major indigenous defense platforms, including the Altay main battle tank, armored combat vehicles and naval warships.

He added that the steel alloys can also be used in heavy civilian industries, including mining equipment and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing.

Yalcintas said OYAK’s Romanian plant will be upgraded to manufacture ultra-thin electrical steel sheets measuring just 0.1 millimeters in thickness. The products will use high-grade steel refined at the new vacuum treatment facility at Türkiye’s Isdemir plant.

“Türkiye will become one of the five to six countries capable of producing steel of this grade, quality, and thinness,” he said.

He also noted that OYAK is investing in autonomous land vehicles designed to carry out heavy logistics and agricultural operations, as well as tactical defense missions.

TEKNOFEST, Türkiye’s leading technology, defense and aviation event, began its southeastern edition Wednesday in the province of Sanliurfa. The event will bring together technology enthusiasts, young investors and thousands of visitors through Oct. 14.