Defense Technology International - September 2007 - (Page 28) DISPATCHES TAI GLOBAL MADE IN TURKEY Ankara bulks up industry and exports TAI’s plant at Akinci air base near Ankara. Turkey’s procurement business and emphasis on export sales are not without drawbacks. Concern about technology transfer is ocurkey’s defense industry is emerging as a world-class player casionally a sore spot when Turkey seeks to acquire equipment in the development and export of technology and equip- and systems from abroad. U.S. suppliers in particular object to the ment for air, sea and land forces. With a commitment by degree of technology transfer mandated in requests for proposals the government to expand the nation’s defense and aerospace in- (RFPs), and are leery of their technologies winding up in Turkish dustries through aggressive modernization programs, and a sizable equipment and systems for sale to other countries. In other cases, increase in the current defense budget, Turkey soon could rival RFPs mandate that a Turkish company be the prime contractor on some European and Asian countries in the quality and quantity of a project, while the risks involved with development and program management remain with the foreign partner. In many cases, this its weapons and equipment. Murad Bayar, head of the Defense Industries Undersecretariat (SSM), has not been acceptable to foreign suppliers and results in fewer bids for Turkish programs. Turkey’s procurement agency, is pushing Nevertheless, the capability of the defor greater government-sponsored R&D fense industry is surging. As one Westas part of a plan to boost defense expenern European industrialist comments, ditures and development capabilities. “Turkish companies are good when it The 2007 national defense budget is up comes to production, and basic tech10% over 2006 to $9.5 billion, accountnological know-how is advanced. They ing for 2% of gross domestic product just need to master R&D cycles.” and 6.3% of state spending. Turkey’s main aerospace manufacThe SSM wants half of the systems turer is Tusas Aerospace Industries and equipment procured by the de(TAI). Its capabilities and expertise fense ministry to be made in Turkey are expected to grow with participaby 2010. Considering that the pertion in a number of programs. One centage was 25% in 2003, this means involves assembling the next batch doubling industrial capability in only of 30 Lockheed Martin F-16C Block seven years, a much shorter timeframe Turkey’s largest aerospace company, TAI, 50+ fighters that Turkey ordered under than a normal procurement cycle. will build medium-altitude, long-endurthe Peace Onyx IV program. The deciThe SSM also wants Turkish-made ance UAVs for the Turkish air force. sion to acquire at least 100 Lockheed equipment to be competitive enough in technology and cost to increase export business. The results so Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters will mature TAI’s capabilities even far have been positive: In 2005 military exports were worth around more, as it has been selected to be the second-source supplier for the $350 million; in 2006 they grew almost 43% to $500 million. Sales fighter’s central fuselage. TAI also will manufacture and assemble up to 55 basic trainer airin recent years included patrol boats to Pakistan; armored fighting vehicles to Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; craft for the Turkish air force (under a contract signed July 18 with surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers to the Netherlands; artillery Korea Aerospace Industries), as well as advanced jet trainers. TAI is part of the Airbus A400M military transport program (Turkey has rockets to the UAE, and tank simulators to South Korea. ANDY NATIVI•ANKARA T TAI CONCEPT 28 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2007 www.aviationweek.com/dti http://www.aviationweek.com/dti
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.