Türkiye's defense industry gains momentum at IDEF fair

Türkiye is rapidly progressing towards being able to meet almost all of its needs for land, air, and sea vehicles with domestic and national capabilities. This fact was prominently demonstrated at the world's fourth-largest defense industry fair, IDEF, which began a few days ago. All the companies answering questions highlighted the noteworthy shift from previously acquiring complementary products from abroad to now producing them domestically. Products worth hundreds of thousands of dollars are now not only more cost-effective but also have domestic equivalents. Moreover, the most critical aspect, which is software, is now being developed in Türkiye as well. Turkish companies such as Aselsan, TUSAŞ, Roketsan, Sarsılmaz, and Canik have successfully localized the entire production process, from software to hardware. Here are some of the products: In the National Combat Aircraft project, the localization rate is rapidly increasing. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) General Manager Temel Kotil stated that they plan to fly the National Combat Aircraft KAAN with a Turkish engine in 2028, saying, 'Our work on this is ongoing.' Kotil also mentioned that the ATAK-2 helicopter has attracted significant interest, particularly from Gulf countries, due to its ability to carry 1.3 tons of explosives, lift heavy loads, and its 30-millimeter cannon. ASELSAN was the standout at IDEF with its new national air defense systems. The GÖKSUR, which will be involved in the defense of naval platforms against air threats, received considerable attention. Türkiye can now produce air defense systems that only four countries in the world were able to produce. The GÖKDEMİR Launching System aims to enable the use of air-to-air missiles for ground-based air defense purposes. The GÖKBERK Mobile Laser Weapon System was also showcased at IDEF 2023. Canik introduced the advanced new version of the national 12.7 mm anti-aircraft gun, the Canik M2 QCB, for the first time. Zafer Aral Aliş, Chairman of Samsun Homeland Defense (SYS), Canik's parent company, stated that they now also produce carrier systems and mounts for heavy machine guns domestically, along with the guns themselves. The technical and engineering infrastructure of the National Combat Fighter Aircraft Kaan is provided by the UK-based BAE Systems. Fatma Banu Dinçer, Türkiye Director of BAE Systems, expressed their focus on working with local industry to establish strong partnerships that would best serve the Turkish Armed Forces. STM, Türkiye's first small-sized national submarine project, STM500, is preparing to begin block assemblies and aims to launch its first unmanned underwater autonomous vehicle next year. STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz emphasized that with the STM500, Türkiye has become one of the rare countries capable of designing and producing submarines in the world. Sarsılmaz Silah Sanayi showcased the SARBOT, the first autonomous combat robot, at the fair, along with a 25mm land cannon, a 5.56mm machine gun, and a drone integrated with a weapon, which were the most prominent products of the year. Aliş stated, 'Of course, the most crucial aspect is that we now produce all of these ourselves. For instance, we manufacture the cannon of the ATAK helicopter, and at the same time, we develop its software alongside all the technological components. Software is the most critical aspect in these products. We are planning to expand the factory where we carry out the production. The demand is very high, and we are struggling to keep up.' Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board and Technology Leader of Baykar, highlighted that Roketsan is the institution responsible for producing Türkiye's first smart ammunition. Bayraktar said, 'We have been partners with Roketsan since 2014. With this synergy, we have managed to develop the most famous UAVs in the world. First, it was Bayraktar TB2, then Akıncı. Now, together, we are working on Kızılelma, Türkiye's first unmanned combat aircraft. Now, Türkiye has a vast family of smart ammunition and air defense and attack systems.'