Page 74 - IDEF 2017

Meanwhile, 24 Nu. 37 aircraft and many formed in 1954 under the Ministry of National
gliders were produced in the aircraft facility Defence and in 1970 development studies of
founded by entrepreneur Nuri Demirağ in defence industry would be resumed.
İstanbul in 1936 but this private firm was out
of operation in 1943. 1960-1970
It was a period of regional conflicts and the
The first major initiative in the aviation Cyprus issue. Cyprus crises in 1963 and 1967,
industry was the formation of an aircraft the Cyprus Peace Operation in 1974, and the
facility by Turkish Aviation Association in arms embargo imposed on Turkey as a result
Ankara in 1941. Starting production in 1944, of this Peace Operation, necessitated the
this facility manufactured 80 Miles Magister development of a national defence industry.
trainer aircraft, two-engine ambulance Having suffered a great deal because of
aircraft THK-10 light transport aircraft, 60 its dependence on foreign supply, Turkey
Ugur two-seater trainer aircraft and various started to seek ways to reactivate national
types of gliders. The first aircraft engine defence industry. During this period when
facility was set up in Ankara, in 1945 and investments based on import substitution
started production in 1948. Several other were common, production of G-3 and MG-3
facilities were founded in Malatya between rifles by MKEK under German licenses were
1942-43 in order to repair and maintain the concrete examples of this policy put into
aircraft procured from the United Kingdom practice.
during World War 2.
1970-1980
1950-1960 The 1970’s were an era when solid initiatives
Instead of improving the local defence were put into force so as to establish a
industry, Turkey depended on foreign aid national defence industry. As a result of
and met its defence requirements through the national reaction to the arms embargo
and in the framework of NATO during this against Turkey, Armed Forces Foundation
period of Cold War and military and political was established. Although the Foundation
polarization. Foreign military aid that started formed enterprises such as Aselsan,
pouring in upon Turkey’s membership in Havelsan, Aspilsan thanks to the donations,
NATO and soared within a short period, it was soon realized that the actual need for
stalled the development of local defence a contemporary defence industry could not
industry which was still at its infancy. be met through the Foundation alone.

As a result, efforts for the development of a 1980-1985
local defence industry slowed down; orders During the 1980’s, state initiative was
of Turkish Armed Forces from local suppliers undertaken to realize the modernization
diminished inevitably, and in the end military of the Turkish Armed Forces and the
facilities became a part of the Machinery and establishment of a national defence industry
Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK) which based on contemporary technology was
was formed as a State Economic Enterprise determined as the primary goal.
on 15 March 1950.
The first step in this direction was taken by
However, development of weaponry and the establishment of Defence Equipment
military equipment was kept on the agenda by Directorate as a state enterprise. However,
the Research and Development Department the shortcomings stemming from its inert

74 TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY