DEFENSE NEWS - Latest Defense News from May 13 to 19, 2024

The Turkish defense industry is always rich, varied, and dynamic. Accurate monitoring requires continuous vigilance and specialized analysis, which are part of the expertise provided by the consulting firm Advantis.

In fact, just during week 20 (from May 13 to 19), the Turkish defense industry witnessed many significant events. To give a few examples:

• The delivery of 24 armed drones (SİHA) BAYRAKTAR TB2 to Poland at the 12th unmanned aerial vehicle base. Notably, the President of the Turkish Defense Industry, Mr. Haluk GÖRGÜN, visited an ASELSAN office in Poland during the drone delivery ceremony.

• The first Türkiye-Estonia defense industrial cooperation meeting in Ankara.



• The visit to the AKINCI drone training and flight test center in Çorlu/Tekirdağ by the Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Metin GÜRAK.

• The visit to ASELSAN, NUROL MAKİNA, OTOKAR, and the SAHA İSTANBUL cluster by an Estonian delegation led by the Director General of the Defense Investment Center, Mr. Magnus-Valdemar SAAR.

• The visit to the Özdemir BAYRAKTAR National Technology Center (BAYKAR) by a delegation from the Brazilian Armed Forces.

• A conference on capacity management in the defense industry organized at Istanbul Technical University as part of the annual EURITECH R&D, Innovation, and Technology Summit.

• The signing of amendments to the urban security projects agreement between the Turkish Defense Industry Presidency and ASELSAN.

• The presence of numerous national platforms and systems during the major exercise DENİZ KURDU-II/24 (SEA WOLF-II/24).

• The test firing of the SUNGUR MANPADS developed by ROKETSAN.

• The 38th, 39th, and 40th test flights of the BAYRAKTAR TB3 PT-1 drone developed by BAYKAR. The flights were conducted as part of high-altitude performance and certification tests, bringing the total flight hours of this drone to 357.

• The test firing of the LGK-82 and LGK-84 laser-guided bombs from the F-16 ÖZGÜR (national modernization program) at over 15,000 feet using the national mission management system developed by ASELSAN.

• The commencement of the use of the biometric data management system BİYOTEKSAN developed by HAVELSAN by the Directorate General of Security (Police).

• The five-year extension of TUSAŞ (TAI) participation in the development project of the pioneering R&D lab 1515, in cooperation with TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye).

• The completion of control activities and acceptance of the initial training helicopter and the modernized M60-T tank.

• The development by MİLKAB of a family of silicone power group cables.

• The signing of a protocol between TÜRKSAT and Kırıkkale University as part of the "pursue your dream" program for engineering candidates.

• The flight on May 19 in Samsun of the HÜRJET light combat and advanced training aircraft, still under development, during the commemoration of Atatürk and the celebration of Youth and Sports Day.

• The Cubesat Vision Defence–International Space Defence Workshop organized on May 15 by TUYAD (Association of Electronic, Telecommunications, and Satellite Businessmen).

• The first activity of the "my strength is women engineers" program organized by FNSS.

• A demonstration of STM's capabilities at the international future submarines seminar in Indonesia.

• A meeting between members of the Turkish Cybersecurity Cluster and professional high schools for non-commissioned officers as part of the sectoral cooperation program organized by the Digital Transformation Office. This cluster also organized the "cyber summit 24" at Dumlupınar University.

• The project of the first Turkish professional center of excellence on battery technologies led by the COŞKUNÖZ training foundation, a project approved by the European Union.

• Finally, the start of registrations for several programs such as the FİDE (cybersecurity ecosystem development) project or the young visionaries internship.

Article written by Patrice MOYEUVRE, General Officer in 2s of the French Air and Space Force, researcher at IRIS and Director of defense and security projects within Advantis.