An Armor That No One Else in the World Can Produce: Made Possible by a Ceramic You Won’t Find on Conventional Ballistic Ceramic Shelves
“We Design Armor Starting from the Ceramic Powder Recipe.”
NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, a Nurol Holding company established in 2008 with entirely domestic capital to produce advanced technical ballistic ceramics, manufactures its in-house designed personnel ballistic protection, vehicle platform ballistic protection, and structural ballistic protection solutions using national and indigenous capabilities.
By leveraging state-of-the-art equipment in its accredited laboratories and initiating design from the ceramic powder formulation stage, NUROL TEKNOLOJİ develops advanced technical ballistic ceramics that cannot be found on standard ballistic ceramic shelves. Through the optimization of process recipes and geometries during the production of some of the hardest known ceramics, such as Boron Carbide and Silicon Carbide used as armor materials, the company has achieved a unique capability. Thanks to this expertise, NUROL TEKNOLOJİ is able to produce the lightest, highest-quality ballistic armor plates resistant to armor-piercing ammunition; products that are unmatched globally and manufactured solely through its own proprietary resources. Providing protection solutions not only to the Turkish Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies but also to security units worldwide, NUROL TEKNOLOJİ has produced millions of ballistic protection products to date. With a product portfolio ranging from personnel protection systems to structural ballistic protection solutions, the company possesses the scope and capability to meet all requirements of security forces.
During the World Defense Show 2026, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between February 8–12, 2026, we conducted an in-depth interview with Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER, General Manager of NUROL TEKNOLOJİ. The discussion covered the company’s targets and expectations in Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf region, its ongoing projects, the acquisition of the Germany-based powder manufacturer Industrie Keramik Hochrhein (IKH) and the new capabilities this brings to NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, as well as the company’s footprint in European markets and the core competencies that differentiate it from its international competitors.
Defence Turkey: NUROL TEKNOLOJİ is recognized as one of the leading companies in the field of ballistic armor solutions and advanced technical ceramics. For our readers, could you briefly outline the core competencies that set NUROL TEKNOLOJİ apart?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: The most distinctive aspect of NUROL TEKNOLOJİ is our ability to combine deep engineering expertise in advanced materials science with real operational requirements. In ballistic armor solutions and technical ceramics production, we do not merely deliver products; we develop system-level solutions. Thanks to our strong R&D infrastructure, advanced testing capabilities, and integrated production structure, we are able to manage the entire process in-house, from design to validation. Within the scope of our vertical integration approach, we carry out all critical stages under one roof, from raw material development to ceramic production, from ballistic design to final validation testing. This structure strengthens our control over technology while providing our customers with significant advantages in terms of speed, quality, and reliability. At the core of our position today as a trusted global solution partner lies our commitment to sustainable quality and our strong focus on engineering excellence.
Defence Turkey: What are the main projects and technology areas that NUROL TEKNOLOJİ is prioritizing for 2026? Particularly in armor and advanced material solutions, what kind of roadmap do you foresee?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Our primary objective for 2026 is to develop next-generation armor solutions that offer higher levels of protection while significantly reducing weight. We are conducting extensive R&D activities, particularly on advanced composite structures and high-performance technical ceramics that enhance resistance against multi-threat environments.
In this context, we are more strongly integrating digital engineering, modeling, and data-driven design approaches into our processes. Through our advanced simulation and testing infrastructure, we are accelerating product development cycles while delivering faster and more effective solutions to operational needs in the field.
Our roadmap for the coming period goes beyond new product development; it also includes increasing production capacity, expanding the use of sustainable manufacturing technologies, and strengthening international collaborations. As NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, our goal is to further reinforce our position not only as a manufacturer but as a reliable global technology and solution partner in armor and advanced materials technologies.
Defence Turkey: The World Defense Show (WDS) is a major exhibition for both regional and global defense industries. As NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, which of your products did you highlight at WDS 2026, and what are your expectations from the exhibition?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: The World Defense Show, which we are attending for the second time this year, is one of the most important meeting points of the global defense ecosystem. We view WDS 2026 not merely as an exhibition, but as a platform where the foundations of strategic partnerships are established. At this event, we have the opportunity to directly present our technological capabilities and innovative products to international stakeholders. We are particularly aiming to develop long-term partnerships within regional projects. WDS represents an important step for NUROL TEKNOLOJİ in expanding its global vision and engineering strength across a wider geography.
Defence Turkey: What role does the Middle East and Gulf region play in NUROL TEKNOLOJİ’s global growth strategy? Specifically, what are your main targets and expectations for the Saudi Arabian market?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: The Middle East and Gulf region holds a critical place in our global growth strategy. The increase in defense investments and localization policies make the region a market with significant opportunities. In the case of Saudi Arabia, we already have long-term, value-generating partnerships in place. Our goal is to expand this scope further. We position ourselves not as a product supplier, but as a partner that shares technology and contributes to capability development. Developing sustainable and strategic projects with our regional stakeholders remains one of our top priorities.
Defence Turkey: In the Saudi Arabian market, for which products or solutions are you seeking partnerships?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: NUROL TEKNOLOJİ has actually been active in the Saudi Arabian market for many years. However, due to the period during which relations between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia were strained, like many other Turkish companies, we had to slow down our activities to a certain extent. During that time, we observed that the gap in the market was largely filled by European and U.S.-based companies. With the normalization of relations, we refocused on the market with renewed strength. First, we conducted a detailed analysis of how these companies were positioned in the market and which products and solutions they were offering. We then carried out a comprehensive evaluation process to develop higher-performance and more competitive solutions addressing the same needs. Following an intensive qualification and development period of approximately 1.5 to 2 years, we clearly defined the requirements in Saudi Arabia and moved into serial production with newly developed designs tailored to these needs. As a result of these efforts, we were included in the approved supplier list of General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI). This represents both a significant milestone for us and a highly valuable step toward strengthening our long-term partnerships in the Saudi Arabian market.
Defence Turkey: How do Saudi Arabia’s localization policies affect this cooperation?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Saudi Arabia places great importance on localization in its defense industry, and this approach directly shapes our cooperation model. Accordingly, the model we have developed is based on a phased and sustainable localization strategy. In the first stage, we delivered products fully manufactured at NUROL TEKNOLOJİ facilities. In the second stage, we began supplying semi-finished products, with final production processes carried out in Saudi Arabia. In the next phase, we plan to move toward supplying raw materials and further expanding local production capacity. In this way, while production processes are gradually transferred to Saudi Arabia, we also contribute to the development of the local industrial ecosystem. This model enables us to advance technology transfer in a controlled and sustainable manner, while also establishing a long-term cooperation framework aligned with Saudi Arabia’s localization objectives.
Defence Turkey: In defense technologies, there is often a continuous competition between armor and armor-piercing ammunition. How do you evaluate this dynamic?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: I often liken this dynamic to a “virus and antivirus” relationship. As new threats emerge, protection technologies developed against them evolve simultaneously. This cycle creates a constant technological race in the defense domain. At the core of this competition lies material technology. The performance of armor systems is directly dependent on the level achieved in ceramics, composite structures, and manufacturing processes. Therefore, the evolution of defense technologies is largely shaped by advances in materials science. As NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, our goal is not merely to follow this transformation, but to be among the companies that drive it through material innovation and engineering excellence.
Defence Turkey: There is essentially a cat-and-mouse game between armor and armor-piercing systems…
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Exactly. When you look at the future, this is not only true for the defense industry but for the entire technology landscape. What materials scientists can achieve ultimately determines the direction in which all technologies evolve. In that sense, we are striving to “drive” technology, to be one of its key enablers. As for the Saudi Arabian market, in the field of personnel protection we have already reached the most advanced point currently achievable. And if you ask whether this translates into exports; the answer is yes. We have a very strong partner, and the Saudi state stands behind us. As a result, Saudi Arabia currently holds a significant place in our export portfolio. Our objective now is to further expand our product range into different domains and increase this share even more. Could this relationship eventually extend into material development? Yes, that is certainly possible. Are we open to it? Absolutely. If, in the future, Saudi Arabia seeks to develop advanced technical ceramics, we would be open to sharing our ceramic and production technologies with them.
Defence Turkey: There is often a level of competition among Arab countries. Has your long-standing presence in the Saudi Arabian market, along with the products you supply there and their proven quality, generated interest from other Gulf countries as well? After all, the region includes smaller states that are influenced by Saudi Arabia, as well as wealthy countries that compete with it.
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Yes, but the effect can sometimes be positive and sometimes negative. In other words, it can work both in our favor and against us. However, we do not approach it from that perspective. When you look at the structure of NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, it is not just about countries, within the ecosystem itself, your competitor can also be your customer, and your customer can also be your competitor. For example, if you are operating on the armor side, your competitor in ceramics may actually be your customer, while your customer in powders may simultaneously be your competitor in ceramics. So, we are already managing a highly complex, multi-layered system, and we are quite experienced in navigating such dynamics. For us, the key concept is partnership. We have strong solution partners, including countries that compete with Saudi Arabia, as well as those that are closely aligned with it. These dynamics can change over time. Ultimately, what matters is how the other party perceives you. If you can create a three or four-sided win-win framework, and we are always open to that, you can successfully manage these challenges. We have never been concerned about supporting one side while also maintaining close relations with its competitor. Given the multiple layers we operate in, we may support one country in armor while supporting another in ceramics, and we can manage this within a broader cooperation framework. That said, there are also cases where the outcome can be negative.
Defence Turkey: Saudi Arabia approached you with a requirement in the field of personnel ballistic protection, specifically multi-hit chest plates resistant to armor-piercing rounds, that exceeded existing global standards, and you were able to meet that requirement. In the near future, they are also expected to begin production of 4x4, 6x6, and 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles. On the vehicle armor side, do they also come to you with specific requirements in terms of ballistic protection levels?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Yes, they do present specific requirements in terms of ballistic protection levels for vehicle armor as well. While these demands are generally framed within existing standards, they require solutions that are optimized according to the platform and its operational use case. Accordingly, we will carry out technical studies focused on material selection and armor architecture tailored to the relevant threat levels.
Defence Turkey: For instance, they could allocate an R&D budget and request a higher level of ballistic protection from you. Since each country may have a different threat perception, one country might consider 7.62×51 mm AP (STANAG 4569 Level 3) sufficient, while Saudi Arabia might perceive larger calibers such as 14.5×114 mm API (STANAG 4569 Level 4) or even 30×173 mm APFSDS-T (STANAG 4569 Level 6B) as the primary threat and request armor protection accordingly.
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: These are matters that need to be resolved through direct discussions and joint evaluations with the end user. If you are not fully familiar with the subject, its underlying technology, or the material science behind it, you may indeed request extremely ambitious or even unrealistic requirements. However, Saudi Arabia has come to understand that the more “impossible” the requirement, the fewer viable solutions remain available. In other words, expectations also need to be grounded in a certain level of realism.
Defence Turkey: You acquired a powder company in Germany to gain greater control over the ceramics used as armor materials and to operate at the powder level. Could you elaborate on this process? Is the facility fully owned by NUROL, is it currently operational, and what new capabilities has this acquisition brought to NUROL TEKNOLOJİ? Also, do you plan to use Germany as a base to expand into other markets?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: IKH is a true powder manufacturer specializing in the production of powders that are critical for advanced ceramics. With this acquisition, NUROL TEKNOLOJİ has gained significant powder production capability as well as valuable know-how. This has enabled us both to develop new ceramic formulations and to further expand our product portfolio. During the acquisition process, the approval mechanism of the German Government constituted a major stage, and the entire process took approximately 14 months. Throughout this period, we clearly communicated to the authorities that this acquisition was not intended as a technology transfer; that we already possessed the necessary technological infrastructure and engineering capabilities; and that we had no intention of relocating production from Germany. In fact, even before acquiring the company, NUROL TEKNOLOJİ was already producing its own ballistic powders within its facilities. However, we are not fundamentally a powder producer, we manufacture powders only to the extent required for our own needs, primarily to ensure uniqueness in our ceramic production. With the acquisition of Industrie Keramik Hochrhein, we have gained a truly advanced level of powder production capability and know-how. Following this integration, many new products have been added to NUROL TEKNOLOJİ’s ceramic portfolio, as we have developed new formulations and significantly improved our in-house powders.
Defence Turkey: European companies and governments are generally not very open to transferring know-how when selling defense industry firms, correct?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: That is precisely why it took us 14 months to convince the German Government. Internally, we had already structured and agreed upon the model; technically, financially, and in every aspect. However, obtaining approval from the German authorities took considerable time, exactly for the reasons you mentioned.
We visited them multiple times, held numerous meetings and presentations, and also hosted them at our facilities. We consistently emphasized that while we wanted to acquire this production facility or design center, our intention was not to execute a technology transfer. We are already capable of producing ceramics and powders. Regardless of whether IKH existed within our establishment or not, we were already able to deliver these products to the defense industry. Therefore, this acquisition should not be perceived purely as a technology transfer; we already possess that technology.
Of course, this acquisition enhances our products and opens doors to new sectors, but the core technologies we use in the defense industry were already within our capabilities. Another important concern for them was the impact of this sale on the German economy. They wanted to understand whether we would relocate the company or shift production to Türkiye.
Defence Turkey: Are you affected by export restrictions? The German Government is known for imposing embargoes, and both Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have been affected by such restrictions. Do they impose any limitations on you in this regard?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: On the contrary, we have a very special status there, and we are able to leverage this to Türkiye’s advantage. Under normal circumstances, even if you are transferring raw materials between your own companies, you are subject to export permits from the German Government, this applies to powders as well.
Following the acquisition, one of our main areas of effort was precisely this issue. We continuously explained to the relevant German authorities that if we were required to wait for export approvals, such as those issued by BAFA, even for internal transfers, it would ultimately harm areas of the German economy that they themselves aim to protect.
I believe our team did an excellent job in this regard, and we were able to convince BAFA, the authority responsible for export licensing. As a result, today we are able to obtain an unlimited permit, meaning that products supplied to NUROL TEKNOLOJİ within the defined scope are not subject to export licensing requirements.
Defence Turkey: Apart from Germany, in which other European countries are you active?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: We are currently running projects, across different products and volumes, in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, and Germany. Very recently, we were awarded a tender in Ireland, so we are now present there as well. We also have ongoing activities in Sweden.
Defence Turkey: Are these mainly focused on personnel ballistic protection systems?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Yes, our work in these markets is primarily focused on personnel armor solutions. In Türkiye, we hold nearly the entire market share in personnel ballistic protection, and in recent years we have begun expanding these solutions internationally, where we are also gaining a solid foothold. A similar trend is now emerging for vehicle armor solutions. In addition, we provide armor solutions to our sister companies in Türkiye, including FNSS and Nurol Makina, as well as other major vehicle manufacturers. I would also like to emphasize that we provide armor solutions for MİLGEM vessels; we have armored a total of 27 ships.
Defence Turkey: Does that include MİLGEM platforms exported abroad as well?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Yes, we are involved in all of them. In a way, we were already part of exports indirectly, but now we are increasingly engaging directly with OEMs. Therefore, on the vehicle armor side, we have only recently begun to position ourselves more actively, and I can say that we are entering this field quite strongly.
Defence Turkey: Your vehicle armor solutions are compatible with armor manufacturers such as MIILUX OY in Türkiye and RAMOR in Europe, correct?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: In some cases, yes, in others no, it depends on the specific requirement. Typically, when a new vehicle is designed, armor is not the starting point. The vehicle already exists, designed by a manufacturer, with a certain ballistic protection level, for example, STANAG 4569 Level 2, and the hull steel is selected accordingly. However, a customer may come and say: “I will deploy this vehicle in Afghanistan, so I need Level 4 protection.” That is where we come in. Upgrading protection from Level 2 to Level 4 is precisely our area of expertise. Based on the vehicle’s geometry, we design additional panels, what we call “add-on” armor. Since the vehicle already has a steel hull, our solution works in conjunction with that existing structure. Depending on the base material, whether it is, for example, a 6 mm steel from MIILUX or a softer 5 mm steel from another supplier, our engineering team develops the appropriate design.
Some manufacturers, however, choose to design the vehicle from the outset to meet a higher protection level, such as Level 4. In such cases, we may jointly select the steel or develop a stand-alone solution that does not rely on the base steel structure. So, depending on the requirement, different solution approaches are possible. In general, though, the most common approach is upgrading an existing vehicle. Alternatively, the objective may not be to increase protection, but to reduce weight. For example, a customer might say: “I used to carry eight personnel, but due to additional weapon systems, optics, and equipment, I can now only carry six. I need to get back to eight.” Or they may want to integrate a new missile system and require additional payload capacity. Since every vehicle has a maximum weight limit, the customer may ask us to reduce the weight of the armor while maintaining the same level of ballistic protection. In such cases, we work on optimizing the armor accordingly. This is where we typically come into play.
Defence Turkey: There are several major vehicle armor solution providers worldwide. As NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, do you also collaborate with such companies?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Yes, we actively collaborate in this field, and we apply a similar approach to civilian platforms as well. However, as a principle, we do not directly armor civilian vehicles ourselves. This is because, for a civilian vehicle to be road-legal, it must pass a wide range of certification processes, covering braking systems, driving dynamics, safety, and more, which fall within the expertise of vehicle manufacturers.
Therefore, we work together with global brands that produce factory-direct armored vehicles, as well as with armor designers and vehicle development teams. We develop our ballistic protection solutions in a way that integrates with the engineering requirements of the platform. This approach ensures both compliance with necessary certification standards and the achievement of the desired protection level.
Defence Turkey: You mentioned earlier that you are active in several European countries with your personnel armor solutions. Recently, European countries have significantly increased their defense budgets and spending in response to the Russian threat. Türkiye is also eager to take a share of this market, as its defense industry is currently in a strong position to meet European expectations in terms of product quality, production technology, and cost-effectiveness. In fact, cooperation with Türkiye represents one of the fastest and most practical solutions for Europe. Considering your footprint in Europe and your facility in Germany, how does NUROL TEKNOLOJİ position itself within the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) Program, which aims to enhance defense capacity through joint procurement?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Europe has long been perceived as a region of peace, one characterized by high levels of prosperity, comfort, and stability. However, following the Cold War, defense budgets and defense industry spending were significantly reduced. With Russia’s recent actions, this situation has changed dramatically. The increase in demand across Europe is now highly substantial. Requirements that were once measured in the thousands have now reached tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands. And this is not limited to a single country; almost all European nations are currently repositioning themselves. There is clearly a demand, and in terms of both capacity and technical performance, Türkiye is already in a very strong position. As NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, I can confidently say that we are among the best in the fields of armor and ceramics. When evaluating both capacity and performance together, there is no better alternative within Europe.
However, there is also a political dimension. Since we are talking about a conflict environment, this is ultimately a strategic issue. Countries are assessing who stands with whom, where to procure from, whom they are strengthening, and whom they are potentially weakening. At that point, the key question becomes whether they are willing to grant Türkiye such an opportunity. As you know, the European Union evaluates this not only for Türkiye but for other countries as well. Türkiye is essentially the only country capable of meeting Europe’s current needs at scale. At some point, they will inevitably have to work with Türkiye. However, until they reach that point of necessity, there will likely be resistance; we are fully aware of that.
Therefore, Turkish defense companies must find ways to position themselves until that moment arrives. For example, if we sell a product entirely on our own to a country, we may not fall within certain thresholds, such as the 35% rule. But if we package and deliver that product together with a European partner, then we may fall within those thresholds. We already have such products. For instance, when we supply a full vest system together with our partners, where the ballistic plate comes from us, we can more easily align with such requirements. However, if we only supply the plate, that may not be possible. This raises the question of whether we should produce in Europe. In practice, when supplying to the countries I mentioned earlier, we always operate together with solution partners. We always have a local partner with whom we collaborate, not agents, but actual manufacturers. In that sense, we co-produce. Therefore, we do not see a significant risk from our perspective. By producing directly within our partners’ facilities, we will continue to bring our products to the European market.
Defence Turkey: In Türkiye, is there also demand from the civilian market for personnel armor, outside of the defense and security sectors? As a proven manufacturer in personnel protection systems, do you receive such requests?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Yes, we do receive such requests. However, our products are subject to export controls, which means we cannot directly sell to civilians. For example, journalists may require ballistic protective vests just as much as soldiers or police officers, particularly in cross-border operations. In such cases, we do supply products to them. We also provide solutions to private security companies.
However, if an individual approaches us directly to purchase armor, and the product in question is subject to export licensing, we are not permitted to sell it, as it would not be possible to track the end user. That said, demand does exist. In the United States, for example, civilian use is more common. We also have a company there, which allows us to operate more flexibly through that channel.
In fact, products we send to our own company in the U.S. are treated differently by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence in terms of export licensing, we have a special authorization in place. But in general, such transactions are not easily feasible in Türkiye or in Europe. Typically, processes are carried out based on end-user certification requirements.
Defence Turkey: Your global footprint and product portfolio continue to expand. Do you have a growth strategy that moves beyond a Türkiye-centered production base toward a regional or global manufacturing structure, either by further developing your existing production infrastructure in Ankara, acquiring facilities abroad (as in the Germany-based IKH case), or establishing joint ventures with local partners in regions such as Europe, the Middle East, or the Far East?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: The current global environment is quite extraordinary, when I look back over all the periods I can remember, I cannot recall a time when the world was this broadly characterized by conflict. Today, there are serious challenges in Asia, the Americas, Europe, and of course the Middle East. There is virtually no region that is unaffected or not preparing for potential conflict. If we look at China’s impact on global industry, we see how the system evolved. In the past, production was localized. Then, with globalization and the pursuit of lower costs, production shifted heavily toward China. The whole world did this, by the way; it's not something unique to one country. Over time, China transformed into a technological powerhouse, initially by copying, but now by developing advanced technologies of its own. They've become better at making every product than the original owners. Today, many countries are realizing that they have lost critical capabilities when they attempt to rebuild their own defense industrial base.
Defence Turkey: Both Russia and European countries experienced significant brain drain after the Cold War. Russia is now struggling to reproduce or maintain systems it developed decades ago. Europe faces similar challenges, with skilled personnel having moved abroad or transitioned into other sectors.
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: That is indeed one of the biggest challenges. As countries plan for the next 20 years, they are all trying to relocalize production. They want to produce within their own borders again. Therefore, even if I were to say that NUROL TEKNOLOJİ will remain solely in Ankara, that would not be realistic. If we want to bring our products to these countries, sell to them, and maintain long-term cooperation, we must localize in those markets. Rather than thinking country by country, it may be more appropriate to think regionally. There should be at least one production base in Europe, one in the East Asia, and another in the Gulf region, most likely in Saudi Arabia, which already represents a major focus for us. We already have plans in place and have developed business models around them. In fact, I believe this transformation will materialize in the near future, it is almost inevitable, as all countries are moving in this direction. In this sense, Türkiye is actually in a fortunate position, as we were already compelled to develop such capabilities earlier.
Defence Turkey: Earlier, you emphasized that NUROL TEKNOLOJİ is one of the few companies globally capable of both developing armor technologies and producing the underlying materials. In this competitive environment, what is the key capability or differentiating factor that sets you apart from your international competitors in Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: First of all, if you try to procure ceramics from the United States, you cannot simply obtain what you need, you can only obtain what they are willing to supply. That limitation directly affects your ability to develop the product you actually want. Another country may be somewhat more flexible in this regard, but they could only meet demand within extended timelines. These companies are our competitors, but we also maintain good relations with them. In our discussions, they often say the same thing: “We need these materials for ourselves.” There are even cases where they suspend ceramic sales for over 6 months at a time.
Defence Turkey: And in some cases, countries like Saudi Arabia might not even be able to procure such materials from the U.S., or others due to political constraints.
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Exactly. Political factors can create serious barriers between countries. Türkiye, however, occupies a highly strategic position and is able to maintain a more balanced approach in its relations. I believe this is one of our strongest advantages. This applies particularly to Boron Carbide ceramics from the U.S. or other countries. In Silicon Carbide ceramics, we are more directly competing with European companies. However, even there, the same dynamics apply. For instance, Germany had not invested significantly in defense for many years, but recently it activated its entire inventory. To meet its own needs, it effectively reserved the production capacity of certain companies; those companies were not even present at exhibitions for two to two-and-a-half years because they were fully dedicated to supplying the German Army. This is critical, because if you have built your entire supply chain around such a company, you suddenly find yourself without alternatives.
In our case, high production capacity means that customers can obtain the products they need, when they need them. In addition, ceramics in Türkiye are not subject to export licensing, which eliminates the need for end-user certification in many cases. Another key advantage is that we can develop exactly the type of ceramic required. Most ceramic producers do not have expertise in armor systems, they simply manufacture the most commonly demanded materials. We, on the other hand, start by asking the customer what they want to achieve at the system level, and then design and produce the most cost-effective, high-performance ceramic accordingly. This is one of our most important differentiators.
Beyond ballistics, I would also like to highlight another aspect. With the acquisition of IKH, we effectively acquired a broader capability package. The company produces advanced technical ceramic powders used in electronics, medical applications, space, and aerospace. These include highly specialized powders used in jet engine components and even in space systems such as those associated with SpaceX. These are highly sophisticated materials, particularly in the field of semiconductors. As NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, this acquisition has enabled us to expand further into advanced technology domains, true to our name, and we are continuing our work in these areas as well.
Defence Turkey: Were Boron Carbide and Silicon Carbide already known ceramic materials? In other words, could entirely new carbide materials, perhaps unique to NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, be developed in the future through R&D?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: These are essentially powder-based compounds. Boron is an element on the periodic table, and silicon is another. You can create a wide variety of compounds and combinations from such elements. That is the nature of chemistry, by adjusting compositions such as boron, silicon, and other elements, and by varying process parameters like temperature and pressure, you can obtain vastly different outcomes. There are virtually infinite combinations. So yes, new materials will certainly emerge in the future. We are already working on this, developing highly diverse, doped material systems, and continuing our R&D efforts in that direction.
However, there is also the ballistic dimension of the problem. I often emphasize this: if, in the future, laser weapons become operational in the field, what kind of armor protection will be required against them? The armor systems you see today are primarily designed against kinetic energy threats. That does not mean kinetic threats will disappear, but future technologies will introduce entirely new challenges. Let me put it this way, it doesn't necessarily have to be a laser, or just kinetic energy alone. What could it be tomorrow or the day after? For example, drones have already reshaped the battlefield. Many current countermeasures are still insufficient. The use of nets by Russia and Ukraine against drone threats is simply not a realistic or permanent solution. As new threats evolve, countermeasures will also evolve, this is a continuous cycle. Our approach is to stay ahead of this curve by preparing for multiple scenarios: what do we do if such a threat emerges, or if another type of threat becomes dominant?
Defence Turkey: You are developing a new product called “Armor Integrity” for use in armored vehicles. What kind of transformation do sensor-based solutions like this indicate for the future defense architecture?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Armor Integrity represents a shift beyond the conventional concept of armor, it is an intelligent and integrated solution. This sensor-based system monitors the real-time condition of armor in the field and provides users with a data-driven security perspective. This approach signals a transition in defense systems from passive protection to active, observable protection. The future defense architecture will not only rely on durability, but also on systems that generate and analyze data. Armor Integrity is an important part of this transformation.
For us, Armor Integrity is a very special product. With this solution, we are now making our armor systems “smart.” We have developed strong digital capabilities, not only in digitizing our factory but also our products. A large team is working on these technologies.
Let me explain through an example. Armor Integrity is integrated directly into our armor systems and is also installed on platforms such as the FNSS PARS. Imagine a vehicle in the field coming under attack. Under normal conditions, the user has very limited situational awareness, they may hear an impact but cannot determine where the vehicle was hit, what type of threat was involved, or whether they should continue the mission or withdraw.
With Armor Integrity, we can provide real-time information: where the vehicle was hit, from which direction, and the current integrity level of the armor. For example, the system can indicate that a specific panel was struck, that it still retains 70% of its protective capability, that the shot came from a particular direction, and even compare the incoming threat. For example, it warns the crew saying your armor only protects against 12.7 mm, but you're facing 14.5 mm bullets, so you should retreat or find cover.
Defence Turkey: How do you achieve this? Is it based on sensors?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Yes, the system is sensor-based. In fact, the armor plate itself can function as a sensor, it includes an electronic card. There are two main approaches: either through embedded electronic layers integrated into the armor, or through small sensors placed within the armor or the vehicle structure. This is a highly complex engineering challenge. You are dealing with impacts at velocities around 1,000 meters per second, extreme kinetic energy, and yet you want adjacent panels to remain unaffected.
Defence Turkey: They must be affected to some extent.
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: No, in our preliminary tests, they are not affected, because the sensors can distinguish whether the impact is direct or transferred from a neighboring panel. This makes the system highly reliable. We can describe this as an awareness-generating smart armor panel. In many armored vehicles, there is no direct line of sight for the user, they rely entirely on instrumentation. With this system, not only does the user gain awareness, but in vehicles like PARS, the turret can automatically detect the impact direction and respond accordingly.
Defence Turkey: Can these smart armor panels also provide higher-level situational awareness, for example, informing a unit or platoon commander in urban operations that certain vehicles have sustained damage and should reposition?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: That decision ultimately belongs to the commander. We provide the data; the commander interprets it and makes operational decisions. For instance, they may instruct one vehicle to reposition based on the information received.
Defence Turkey: When you say “commander,” do you mean the vehicle commander?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Both the vehicle commander or other command elements. The data can be viewed inside the vehicle and transmitted to other command centers as needed.
Defence Turkey: How is that information transmitted to the command center?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: That is actually the easiest part. There is already a communication link between the vehicle and the command center. The vehicle also has onboard displays, for example, in the PARS, there is a dedicated tablet interface through which the data can be monitored in real time.
Defence Turkey: Has it become a standard feature on PARS?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Not yet. The product is not currently deployed in the field, as we are still at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. In other words, it has not yet been fielded on a vehicle in operational conditions. However, we will be moving to field deployment in the near future. In addition, we are not only working with FNSS and Nurol Makina but also conducting extensive studies with other armored vehicle manufacturers. Moreover, the platform does not necessarily have to be a land vehicle, we can even apply this system to personnel vests. It is also not limited to ballistic protection. We are evaluating it in terms of detecting damage and defects on the platform as well. From this perspective, it could even be applicable in civilian vehicles, for example, to assess the impact of collisions. So, it has a wide range of potential use cases, but at this stage, we are primarily testing it on PARS Alpha and NMS vehicles.
Defence Turkey: Since this is an electronic system, does it have a battery? Does it require periodic replacement?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: No, it does not require a battery in the conventional sense. It is only replaced if it is damaged. Thanks to the embedded sensors, we can continuously monitor its condition whether it is functioning properly or not. The real challenge is integrating all these capabilities into such a small sensor. Our team is now working on reducing the size of the sensor by half. Integrating these sensors into the vehicle is actually the easier part.
Defence Turkey: The armor plate you described contains an electronic card with semiconductor materials. Do you also produce those materials?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: On the semiconductor side, as I mentioned earlier, IKH works on highly specialized powders used in electronics, medical, space, and aerospace applications. This is a field that we were not previously involved in. However, these powders are ultimately used by others to produce end products, for example, ceramics, coatings, or medical implants. We are currently evaluating whether we should move further along the value chain and produce these end products ourselves, and whether it makes strategic sense, and aligns with our capabilities.
Defence Turkey: Looking specifically at Armor Integrity, as production volumes increase, it seems you may inevitably move in that direction.
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: To some extent, yes. We are fundamentally a materials-focused company. But this is not limited to the defense sector. Take semiconductors, for example, electric vehicles, chips, robotics, these are all rapidly growing fields, and there is already a significant global supply gap.
Why are electric vehicles still not as widespread as expected? In my opinion, it largely comes down to battery limitations. If battery capacity were significantly improved, if you could complete long-distance journeys without recharging, transition to all electric vehicles would accelerate dramatically. This may happen within the next decade, but today it is constrained by material limitations within the battery itself. The same applies to chips. As you know, there was a global chip shortage. One of the key issues is capacity, if you could load three times more data onto the same chip, many of these constraints would disappear.
Traditionally, chips were based on silicon. Now, there is a shift toward silicon carbide, which offers three to five times higher capacity. The discussion today is about how much further chips can be miniaturized. From our perspective, this raises a strategic question: since we already work with both silicon and carbides, should we move into silicon carbide production for such applications? Should we not? These are the kinds of questions we are actively exploring. Deciding whether to enter these areas is one matter; having the capability to do so is another; and committing to the required investment is yet another. What is certain is that we are carefully evaluating all these possibilities.
Defence Turkey: Türkiye is currently making a significant push toward indigenous chip production…
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: There are indeed very strong incentives in place right now. We are closely evaluating all of them. When I say evaluating, I mean we are assessing whether it makes sense to bring such a technology to Türkiye whether it is worth the investment or not. In some fields, technology evolves extremely rapidly. By the time you catch up, that technology may already be outdated. So, the question is whether it is truly necessary.
Defence Turkey: Is gaining this capability for Türkiye the priority? Wouldn’t you receive partnership offers from abroad?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: Yes, Türkiye gaining this capability is the primary objective. At this stage, we would not expect partnership offers in such areas, because these are highly sensitive technologies that countries tend to keep to themselves. If we are to pursue this, our foremost priority would be to ensure that Türkiye acquires this capability independently, with the support of the state. Only after reaching a certain level of maturity would partnership opportunities emerge.
I always give this example: when NUROL TEKNOLOJİ was first established, the company wanted to purchase ceramic furnaces because you simply cannot produce ceramics without them. However, we were unable to procure these furnaces from the United States or Germany, as they were subject to export restrictions. The reason was clear: if they sold us those furnaces, they knew we would produce ceramics and they knew where those ceramics would be used.
So, the decision was made to develop our own. The team at the time spent years building those furnaces. Once we succeeded and began producing ceramics, both the United States and Germany lifted the export restrictions and said, “Now we can sell you the furnaces.” These are highly strategic decisions, and that is how this sector operates. Similarly, in the case of chips, we would not expect partnership offers until we reach a certain level of capability on our own.
At its core, NUROL TEKNOLOJİ is a very unique company. I always say this, and I will continue to say it regardless of whether I am here or not. In the field of ballistics, it is truly exceptional. But beyond that, in advanced material technologies, it occupies a very special position. There is, in a sense, a hidden treasure beneath the surface; what matters is how much of it we can uncover, how much effort we invest, and how successfully we can develop it.
Defence Turkey: NUROL TEKNOLOJİ also stands out with its strong capabilities in analysis and simulation. How does the digitalization of ballistic test data and the transformation of testing processes through analytical approaches contribute to your technology vision?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: By continuously enhancing our analysis and simulation capabilities, we are making our testing processes more predictable and efficient. Through the digitalization of ballistic test data, we can obtain faster feedback and optimize our design processes. Data analytics is playing an increasingly central role in our decision-making mechanisms. This approach enables both cost efficiency and performance improvements. In the long term, our goal is to further strengthen a data-driven engineering culture across the entire organization.
Defence Turkey: Finally, if you were to summarize NUROL TEKNOLOJİ’s vision for 2026 and beyond in a single framework, what message would you like to convey to the defense industry and international stakeholders?
Serpil GÖNENÇ DİNÇER: For 2026 and beyond, we aim to position NUROL TEKNOLOJİ as an innovative, reliable, and strategic technology partner. Our objective is not only to address today’s requirements but also to develop solutions that are prepared for the threat environment of the future. Sustainability, digital transformation, and global partnerships form the core pillars of our vision. Our message to international stakeholders is clear: NUROL TEKNOLOJİ is a strong partner for long-term, trust-based cooperation. We are ready to build the future together in ballistic protection and armor systems
