Page 12 - Global Power Turkish Defence Industry

General Directorate of Military Facilities
was set up in 1921. Establishing a weaponry
and ammunition production capability was
discussed for the first time during the İzmir
Congress of Economics. Consequently a
number of facilities were set up in Ankara
and its surroundings between 1924 and 1943.
In addition, a privately owned small facility
producing pistols, 81 mm mortar and its
ammunition, explosives and pyrotechnics,
provided support to the Turkish Armed Forces
during World War 2. In the meantime Gölcük
Shipyard was set up for the maintenance
of Yavuz battle cruiser in 1924 and Taşkızak
Shipyard was reactivated in 1941.

Turkish aviation industry was set in motion with
the establishment of Tayyare ve Motor Türk AŞ
(TamTAŞ) in 1926. The facilities of TamTAŞ in Kayseri
started production in 1928 and until 1939, a total
of 112 aircraft –15 German Junkers A-20s, 15 US
Hawk fighters, 10 US Fledging trainers, 15 German
Gotha liaison aircraft –were produced. After
completion of the maintenance of the aircraft in
the inventory of the Turkish Air Force Command,
TamTAŞ suspended aircraft production in 1939.
Meanwhile, 24 Nu. 37 aircraft and many gliders
were produced in the aircraft facility founded by
entrepreneur Nuri DEMİRAĞ in İstanbul in 1936
but this private firm was out of operation in 1943.
The first major initiative in the aviation industry
was the formation of an aircraft facility by Turkish
Aviation Association in Ankara in 1941. Starting
production in 1944, this facility manufactured
80 Miles Magister trainer aircraft, two-engine
ambulance aircraft THK-10 light transport
aircraft, 60 Ugur two-seater trainer aircraft and
various types of gliders. The first aircraft engine
facility was set up in Ankara, in 1945 and started
production in 1948. Several other facilities were
founded in Malatya between 1942-43 in order to
repair and maintain the aircraft procured from
the United Kingdom during World War 2.

1950-1974

Instead of improving the local defence industry,
Turkey depended on foreign aid and met its
defence requirements through and in the
framework of NATO during this period of Cold

12 TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY