Aselsan’s New Generation Thermal Cameras
Interior Minister Muammer Güler, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mr. Egemen Bağış, National Defence Minister Mr. İsmet Yılmaz, Chief of Staff of the Land Forces Command Lieutenant General İhsan Uyar, Chief of Staff of the Gendarmerie General Command Osman Eker, Commander of Logistics Gendarmerie General Command Major General Ata Kalkan, Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Adnan Özbal, Deputy Director General of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation Mr. Fikri Gönültaş, Head of the Central Finance and Contracts Unit Mr. Muhsin Altun, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey Mr. Bela Szombati and many military and civilian directors of high level attended the ceremony held at Aselsan’s Akyurt facilities.
Firstly, Aselsan’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Necmettin Baykul went up to the rostrum and stated that Aselsan won the international tender opened in 2011 by the Undersecretariat for Treasury for the “Integrated Border Management Action Plan Phase 2 Project – Blue and Green Border Surveillance Equipment in Pilot and Prototype Locations in Turkey” with the price and quality-wise optimum proposal.
Aselsan Chairman of the Board Necmettin Baykul, continued: “We are pleased that the delivery of the Fixed and Mobile Thermal Camera Systems is being realized at the factory where such systems are produced. 9 companies from 7 countries participated in the tender. Aselsan fully met the technical and administrative specification requirements, giving the lowest price offer among participants and won the tender.
Following, the contract of 12,3 million Euros was signed by Aselsan and Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) on 30 March 2013. 75 % of the financing of the contract was funded by European Union’s general budget and the remaining 25% was funded from the national budget.
During the realization stage of the project, Aselsan worked in close coordination and communication with the Ministerial Border Administration Bureau and exerted maximum effort and attention to fulfill the customer’s requirements. Following the signature of the contract, Aselsan developed two new thermal camera systems taking the border security needs into consideration.
The fixed and mobile thermal camera systems developed and produced by Aselsan were comprehensively examined and tested by the Inspection and Acceptance Committee formed by the end user authority Land Forces Command. The thermal camera systems with completed inspection and acceptance procedures shall be sent to the border units where they shall be used.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all worked in the Project and would like to underline that Aselsan shall continue to develop solutions meeting the similar requirements in the future supply programs”.
“Positive Contribution to EU Accession Period”
Head of the Central Finance and Contracts Unit, Mr. Muhsin Altun said that this project would contribute to the EU Accession Period. Altun, “The overall goal of the project is to provide the supply required for the modernization of the surveillance systems at several important border gates and supporting the alignment of our country’s policies with the policies and strategies of the EU in this respect. When we reach the determined targets within the context of the project, contribution to EU Accession Period as well as our border security shall be provided”.
Szombati: “We will Support Turkey’s Efforts in Alignment with the EU on Border Security”
Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey Mr. Bela Szombati extended a speech at the ceremony as well. Szombati mentioned that border management in Turkey was hard due to geographic conditions and pointed out that Turkey and EU should cooperate in irregular immigration, drug trafficking and demining of the borders following Turkey’s membership of the EU. Szombati said “We will continue Turkey’s efforts for the harmonization with EU standards in border management”. Stressing that the project aimed bringing Turkey’s border management approach close to the EU standards and told that the “Integrated Border Administration” concept which EU insisted on constituted a condition for Turkey’s membership of the EU. Bela Szombati stated that the “Integrated Border Management” was among EU’s priorities in the coming period.
İsmet Yılmaz: “Aselsan’s success indicates the level where Turkish defence industry reached”
National Defence Minister Mr. İsmet Yılmaz expressed that the Integrated Border Management Action Plan Phase 2 Project was a project that Aselsan, as a Turkish defence industry company, won by competing with international companies both in price and quality. Yılmaz pointed out that Aselsan’s accomplishments in this project financed by the EU indicated the level of Turkish defence industry.
Yılmaz stated that border security was one of the most challenging issues and underlined the fact that none of the countries was able to accomplish her border security completely. Yılmaz said, “Israel built walls however she could not succeed a 100% protection. United States of America also known as the super power constructed a wall at a part of her border with Mexico and placed electronic sensors to the remaining part, yet could not accomplish a 100% protection”.
Yılmaz mentioned that as it is a challenging issue, border management required cooperation among the institutions and underlined that this project would be serving to the advantage of Turkey and EU. Yılmaz concluded, “Since EU’s border is starting with Turkey’s border, coordination and joint efforts are required to overcome the challenges of this project. Thus we see the relevant institutions in cooperation”.
Bağış: “Aselsan honored Turkey”
Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mr. Egemen Bağış said that the project was the first provision of equipment project funded by EU. Bağış indicated that Aselsan became an institution which honored Turkey and the project was the result of the determined works among the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Defense and Ministry for EU Affairs.
Minister Bağış, stressing that the Ministry for EU Affairs gave a significant importance to the project since the EU membership required to access the security at the level of EU standards said, “The security of a country with insecure borders will be limited”. Bağış reminded the EU of the fact that the Union’s security relied on Turkey’s 81 cities’ security and thanked for their support to projects concerning border security.
Güler: “Efforts to maintain border surveillance through modern methods continue”
Minister of Interior Mr. Muammer Güler stated that the current border security capacity would be increased through various projects and continued: “As a long term goal efforts to establish a new border security organization connected to our Ministry continue. Many EU Projects on border security were accomplished up to date and various projects by means of technical support or equipment provision were realized. The Integrated Border Management Phase 1 Project with a budget of 10 million 960 thousand Euros was realized in 2010-2012. Within the framework of the successive project known as the Integrated Border Management Phase 2 Project, Turkish National Police’s technical infrastructure at border gates was reinforced. 187 new generation fixed thermal cameras and 30 mobile cameras are purchased for our Land Forces usage with this project”.
Minister Güler stated that efforts to modernize border surveillance are continuing and added, “With our two phased future projects that are to be applied within the context of cooperation with the EU, demining of Turkey’s eastern borders and increasing the capacity of border surveillance are aimed. Total budget of this project is 105 million 960 thousand Euros. A demining process shall be realized at an area of total 15 million 975 thousand square meters at the borders with Armenia and Iran within the scope of this project.
Budget from EU
Aselsan developed New Generation Fixed and Mobile Thermal Camera Systems within the framework of the contract. Project’s 75% was financed by the general budget of European Union and the remaining 25 % was sourced by national budget.
Border Management Bureau of the Ministry of Interior conducted the technical coordination of the project. Project’s end user Land Forces Command accomplished the inspection and acceptance procedures of the New Generation Fixed and Mobile Thermal Camera Systems. Deliveries of the developed systems are ongoing.
Specifically Developed
The New Generation Fixed and Mobile Thermal Camera Systems have been designed by taking the border security needs into consideration by Aselsan. Aselsan’s new product namely the New Generation Fixed Thermal Camera System offers a system solution composed of mid-wave infrared thermal imaging unit, daytime imaging unit, laser distance measurer, digital magnetic compass, global positioning system, operator and command unit, remote controlled routing unit and accessories. New Generation Mobile Thermal Camera System is a light-weight, ergonomic hand-held thermal camera system offering a high-range performance.
