Page 38 - Global Power Turkish Defence Industry

BEHIND THE

ACHIEVEMENTS IS

A VERY

SERIOUS R&D,

INNOVATION AND

DETERMINATION

Our private sector has achieved great
success with its unique designs and
achieved significant export potential
in unmanned aerial vehicles. Behind
these successes is a very serious
Mehmet ÖZDEŞLİK R&D, innovation and determination.
Sistem Teknik Industrial Furnaces Inc. The achievements achieved in recent
Chairman of the Board years have brought great confidence
President of Industrial Furnace to the sector. I believe that
Industrialists and Businessmen Assocation developments will be faster then.
Kocaeli Chamber of Industry
23. Committee Chairman

In order to Turkey’s Defence Industry be a Global player, not so open tendering and procurement to foreign
first disposition is our military forces must continue companies,
supply his needs from domestic sources. 3. The power of defence industry is directly
proportional to the technological and economic
Our domestic and national defence industry, which power of our country, therefore, to support of high
started in the Ottoman period and continued during technology design and production capabilities in
the War of Independence, had come to the point of our country,
extinction due to the fact that our army was equipped 4. To increase the efficiency and competitiveness
with foreign sources as a result of our entry into NATO of the private sector by the institutions providing
after 1950. The events that took place during the 1974 services for the defence industry and to support
Cyprus Landing and the post-embargo against our their exportation,
country brought us to realise the the facts. Aselsan, 5. The systems developed for the defence industry
Aspilsan and Havelsan were founded as a result. should be converted into the economy and self-
financed.
At early 70’s at Turkey was dependent to import even
simple walkie talkies for our armed forces. Now Turkey is R&D, innovation and determination
currently able to produce and export serious guidance ASELSAN is the most successful company in defense
systems, electronic warfare devices and equip the industry exports and draws a very successful export
army makes plus started to export of these products chart since it is entirely domestic and not license
has become. During this period, important investments dependent. This shows the importance of being original
such as TEI, TAI, which were established together with and native in order to be successful in export. In
the well-known companies abroad, were not made as addition, TAI, TEI, Alp Aviation and Roketsan institutions
much as Aselsan for the development of national and and sub-contractors serving these institutions are also
domestic technology. This showed us the importance making significant exports. These are big gains for our
and necessity of being local and national, with our own country.
scientists and engineers if Turkey become a global force
in defence industry. Our private sector has achieved great success with
its unique designs and achieved significant export
To summarize my suggestions on this issue; potential in unmanned aerial vehicles. Behind these
1. For a sustainable defense industry, our army to use successes is a very serious R & D, innovation and
our own production equipment and ammunition. determination. The achievements achieved in recent
2. Many countries including the United States, while years have brought great confidence to the sector. I
maintaining its own defense industry, Turkey should believe that developments will be faster then.

38 TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY