AeroVironment Intends for Altoy to Become a High Technology Company in Turkey
Defence Turkey: Could you please inform us about overview of your company, core capabilities, products and expertise?
AeroVironment is the world leader in small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with more than 85 percent of the U.S. Department of Defence unmanned aircraft fleet, more than one million flight hours and more than 30 international customers. The company is also a leader in plug-in electric vehicle development and charging solutions. In the mid 1980’s, AeroVironment invented the hand-launched UAS for delivering better information, on-demand, directly to those who need it, and we have spent the past nearly three decades enhancing our technology.
AeroVironment is a technology solutions provider that designs, develops, produces, supports and operates an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and electric transportation solutions. The company’s electric-powered, hand-launched unmanned aircraft systems provide powerful actionable information to military, public safety and industrial customers around the world through real-time, airborne imaging, sensing and communication.
RQ-11B Raven, RQ-12 Wasp, RQ-20A Puma and Shrike VTOL comprise AeroVironment’s Family of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Operating with a common ground control system (GCS), this Family of Systems provides increased capability to the warfighter that can give ground commanders the option of selecting the appropriate aircraft based on the type of mission to be performed. This increased capability has the potential to provide significant force protection and force multiplication benefits to small tactical units and security personnel.
AeroVironment provides logistics services worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness and provides mission services for customers requiring only the information its UAS produce.
Recently we joined forces with Altoy Defence Industries and Aviation Inc., a Turkish company, to strengthen our commitment to Turkey and neighbouring markets.
Defence Turkey: How do you evaluate your position amongst global defence industry companies?
As I noted previously, AeroVironment is the undisputed world leader in small UAS. The company has delivered nearly 25 thousand air vehicles to the U.S. Department of Defence and more than 30 allied international customers. The U.S. military has conducted a total of five competitive procurements for small UAS programs of record, each of which included the largest global defence companies, and AeroVironment has won all of them. We believe that all military forces among U.S. allies can benefit from small UAS, and that the potential market opportunity is large.
We also continue to develop new products that create new categories, much like our small UAS Family of Systems accomplished. One example is Switchblade™, a tactical missile system designed to provide a rapid, lethal, pinpoint precision strike capability with the ability to avoid harming bystanders. Within minutes, the back-packable Switchblade can be launched to provide the warfighter with a precision strike solution without collateral effect. Switchblade is changing the game on the battlefield and saving lives.
Global Observer is a technology breakthrough: a hybrid-electric, stratospheric UAS designed to provide affordable, persistent reconnaissance and communication over any location on the globe. Global Observer benefits from our more than 20 years of technology leadership in this area.
Defence Turkey: Could you please inform us about the technological competence of Global Observer (High Altitude Unmanned Air Vehicle)?
Global Observer is a liquid hydrogen-fuelled, hybrid-electric unmanned aircraft designed to provide affordable and persistent communication relay and surveillance. Each aircraft is designed to fly in the stratosphere for days, longer than any other airplane in history. A system of two air vehicles will trade-off position above any spot on the globe to provide seamless coverage, like a geosynchronous satellite. Global Observer offers up to a 600-mile diameter of coverage with multi-payload capacity and flexible payload integration options. It has a wingspan greater than that of a Boeing 767, yet it weighs about as much as a full-sized sports utility vehicle. Global Observer uses liquid hydrogen as fuel because it has multiple times the amount of energy per kilo than regular fuels. Its all-composite structure makes the aircraft very light, yet very strong. Global Observer produces only water vapor as its emission.
You can think of Global Observer as a stationary atmospheric satellite operating at a fraction of the cost of satellites and other systems. This capability does not exist today from satellites, manned or unmanned aircraft.
Global Observer is an extension of two decades of developing and demonstrating inventions that make long flight endurance at high altitude possible. AeroVironment’s technology is uniquely qualified to deliver a breakthrough solution like Global Observer.
Defence Turkey: How do you assess your position in Turkey?
We are committed to working with our Turkish partners to contribute to world-class solutions being developed in Turkey. These strong relationships with Turkish partners can benefit the defence Industry and provide a valuable capability to the Turkish Defence forces. We believe international export opportunities have the potential to emerge over the longer term. AeroVironment’s long history in developing advanced electric vehicle technology solutions may also be applicable in Turkey.
AeroVironment and Altoy Defence Industries and Aviation Inc signed a MoU with Turkish Leader Defence Company, Aselsan at the beginning of June. Could you please inform us about the scope of this cooperation?
Our cooperation with Altoy and Aselsan continues to gain strength as we work to identify opportunities that lever each company’s experience, knowledge and key capabilities. The MoU addresses Global Observer, but we are exploring additional areas such as commercial pipeline monitoring. We are already working with Aselsan to supply sensor systems to monitor pipelines for one of the world’s largest oil and gas industry.
Defence Turkey: It is known that your company made an investment in Turkey. What will be the main activity of this facility? When will you start the manufacturing?
We see our physical activity in Turkey being led by Altoy Defence Industries and Aviation Inc. Altoy employs key personnel in Ankara and we hope to see their employment accelerate in the coming months and years. We have already made investments in establishing the JV company and we look forward to a long-term, productive presence in Turkey that benefits our customers, our partners and the Turkish economy.
Defence Turkey: What is your approach on 3rd markets activities? In which markets your new establishment in Turkey will take role? What will be the scope of your activities in these regions?
As I indicated earlier, the demand for our products and services is global in nature, in use by many customers. We see Altoy as a key anchor in this region that enables us to deliver innovative solutions to new customers.
Defence Turkey: Could you please inform us about your cooperation with other Turkish companies and Turkish Authorities?
We are in discussions with several Turkish companies of varying size. We believe Turkish industry has a great deal to offer to improve our existing and future products and services and we believe we provide uniquely valuable solutions that can benefit Turkey, making our participation in this market mutually beneficial.
Defence Turkey:Would you like to add something and give a message to our readers?
Turkey is an important nation, and possesses extensive and growing aerospace and defence industrial infrastructure. We believe that our cooperation in Turkey will provide added value to the Turkish defence industry. We intend for Altoy to become a high technology company in Turkey, just as AeroVironment is in the United States.
We believe that our strong technology capabilities and innovations, together with Turkish companies, can create the potential for Altoy to be a leading actor in the region.
