An Overview: SaSaD-Turkish Defence and Aerospace Industry Manufacturers Association
Defence and Aerospace Industry Manufacturers Association – SaSaD was established 23 years ago in 1990 by 12 leading defence companies. Today we have more than 162 member companies.
There are also 4 clusters who are member of SaSaD. Each cluster has their member companies (The total company number is more then 200)
SaSaD is the only private organization who represents the Turkey in the area of defence and aerospace industry.
The Mission of SaSaD is to provide support to development and strenghtening the Turkish defence and aerospace industry.
SaSaD is the Coordination establishment among the government bodies and companies. She collects the performans of companies each year and use that data for the evaluation of the sector.
With its more than 30 000 employees around 3,7 Billion € turnover (% 9 increase over 2011) 1 billion € export (% 15 increase) and 0,6 billion € R&D (% 15 increase)
Turnover
I should start with a few financial figures for the Turkish defence and aerospace industry. The total turnover of the sector showed a continuous increase after 2001 and reached to 4,4 Billion US dollars in 2011 and 4,756 Billion US dollars in 2012.The increase is % 9.
Export
I believe that the most interesting financial achievement is the increase in exports. In spite of the global economic crises, we are pleased to note that exports of Turkish defence industry reached to 1,262 Billion Dollars in 2012. This figure shows an increase of 15 % over the figure of 2011. The figure is not include the services given in abroad by companies.
R&D
Expenditure in Research and Development from company assets is a key figure. This figure is about 200 Million Dollars in 2008 and 772 Million US Dollars in 2012. We closely observe the percentage of R&D expenses in turnover of companies.
If we add funded R&D projects we obtain a total R&D figure of 772 Million Dollars in 2012.
Primary Fiel
Turkish defence and aerospace industry can be grouped into the following 6 primary fields. I will try to summarize our basic capabilities in each field.
Land Platforms
Naval Platforms
Aerospace
Weapons/Ammunition-Rockets/Missiles
Electronics Electro-Optics
Software and Informations Technologies
Land Platforms
We produce a wide range of tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles. They are configured as personnel carrier, reconnaissance vehicle, communication vehicle, command & control vehicle, EOD vehicle, ambulance or platform for various weapons.
Turkey has a very developed civilian automotive industry. In parallel to this we produce a wide range of tactical vehicles and logistic support vehicles.
Land platforms are one of the most developed export areas. From Far East to Africa you can see military vehicles designed and produced in Turkey.
Based on the experience gained in the design and production of military vehicles, Undersecreteriat for Defence Industry started a design program for a modern main battle tank and Design phase of main battle tank has been completed initial prototype has been complated.
Naval Platforms
Turkish Naval Shipyards established the base of naval ship building industry and built a number of vessels ranging from mine hunters to submarines; from fast patrol boats to frigates. Naval shipyards cooperated with a various European shipyards for these ships.
Recently a number of private shipyards have started to design and build naval ships as well. We should especially note the following platforms:
Multi Role Tactical Platforms configured for patrol, escort, search and rescue, surveillance, fast attack missions (LOA 17 m – 36 m, displacement 90-120 tons, 65-70 knots)
Patrol Boats (LOA 56 m, Displacement 400 tons, speed 25 knots)
Coast Guard Search and Rescue Vessel (LOA 88 m, displacement 1900 tons, speed 22 knots)
In 2005 the most advanced design program and production program has started for a corvette (LOA 99 m, Displacement 2000 tons, speed 29 knots)
Aerospace
After the initial steps during the 1930-1940’s, Turkish aviation industry made a fresh beginning with the establishment of a final assembly line for F-16 fighters. Together with production of many critical sub-assy’s and engines.
F-16 program was followed a number of programs such as CN 235 light transport aircraft, Cougar and Sikorsky helicopters.
Helicopter line brought us to the Turkish Attack Helicopter program. T-129 is a new version of Augusta-Westland A-129 with many systems designed by Turkish industry such as mission computer, night vision equipment, communication equipment, and anti tank missiles.
Based on the experience of international co-production programs, today Turkish defence industry makes an important contribution to international joint design and production programs. Such as F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and A400M Large Transport Aircraft.
Unmanned Air Vehicles is a priority area for Turkish Defence. We classify them in three groups: Mini, Close Range and MALE.
Various Mini UAV’s are designed and produced by Turkish Defence Industry with different ranges (5 to 15 km), flight durations (60 to 120 minutes), operational altitudes (200-3000 feet)
The AV, which is launched with a catapult and recovered by a parachute, does not need a runway. It can fly up to 2 hours with an 8 kg payload and send back imagery data from distances up to 50 km and altitude of more than 12000 ft.
MALE UAV is an ambitious design program. With 10 m fuselage and 17 m wing span MALE UAV will fly at 30 000 feet altitude, for 24 hours. It will be equipped with visible and IR cameras, Laser range finder/designator/spotter as well as a synthetic aperture radar. ANKA has complated her test face start production
The first complete indigenous aircraft design program HÜRKUŞ started in 2006. HÜRKUŞ will be a tandem seating, turbo prop aircraft with 250 knots cruising speed and will climb to 15 000 feet in 5 minutes. Her test face is almost completed.
In the space area we already has launched the Göktürk 1, Göktürk 2 is on the way.
Weapons/Ammunition-Rockets/Missiles
Weapons and ammunitions is a traditional sector in Turkey. We have a number of companies which produce various sizes of pistols and rifles.
We have a Turkish designed infantry rifle, 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm mortars; 105 and 155 mm guns and howitzers.
We should emphasize that 155 mm 52 caliber towed and self propelled artillery guns ( +40 km range) are among the most lethal weapons of the latest design.
In the rocket field we should mention the production of 107 mm (11 km range), 122 mm (40 km range) and 302 mm (100 km range) rockets and launchers.
Electronics Electro-Optics
Turkish defence industry combined its experience with electronics, land-naval-air platforms and weapons. Such as air defence systems and stabilized platforms for armoured vehicles and naval platforms
Our aim is not to “sell” weapons and platforms, but to provide complete solutions to satisfy the mission of the armed forces. We do not simply sell “MRTP’s” or “tracked vehicles”.
Surveillance, muzzle velocity radars
Direction finders, various jammers, communication and radar intelligence systems are also designed and produced in Turkey.
Turkish defence industry followed the technological progress in the electro-optics. Today we produce:
Visible – IR – Thermal sights for armoured vehicles, UAV’s, helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and weapons
Thermal cameras and thermal imaging systems
Laser Range Finders / Laser Designators
Software and Informations Thechnolocies
In the today’s Technology, information technologies is the basis of almost all systems.
In addition to various communication networks, war administration systems for ships, battlefield management systems are very important contribution to the capabilities of Turkish Armed Forces.
We place a special emphasise to simulation systems. We designed a number of simulators for weapon systems, helicopters, airplanes … All these simulators make use of virtual battlefields, simulation models of airplanes, helicopters, tanks, missiles, torpedoes, sonars, radars, as well as terrain and weather.
Another very important field of activity is image processing for satellite imagery in visible / infrared bands and SAR images.
In addition to those areas SaSaD has also the companies working in the areas listed below
R&D and Engineering
Material - Moulds - Machining - Surface Treatment
Parts - Components - Electrical Equipment
Uniforms - Boots - Accessories
Training Equipment - Logistics - Medical
