Bursa’s Unique Defense and Aerospace Projects Get Full Marks from the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries
Bursa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BTSO) continues to create awareness in the strategic industries that play important roles in Turkey’s push toward reaching its goals for the future. Enabling the companies to get involved in defense and aerospace through the Aerospace and Defense Cluster, Council and Development of International Competitiveness projects, under its auspices, BTSO now makes it mark on the Uludağ Novel Products Projects Workshop.
Approximately 20 projects composed of trainer jet projects, unmanned land and air platforms were introduced at the ‘Uludağ Novel Projects Workshop’ led by the BTSO, gathering the companies from Bursa that perform production in defense and aerospace industries.
The companies introduced their defense and aerospace projects and products at the workshop throughout two days. During the workshop, Bursa Aerospace and Defense Cluster (BASDEC) member companies introduced almost 20 projects consisting of trainer jet projects, unmanned land vehicle projects, aerospace and Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle projects, unmanned air cargo vehicles, projects on 3-D printer for defense industry and military outfits of the future.
In addition to the Deputy Undersecretary for Defense Industries Dr. Celal Sami Tüfekçi, General Director of Military Factories Mr. Murat Akkaya, SSTEK General Manager Mr. Mustafa Gürsoy, Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) Head of the Department of Industrialization Mr. Bilal Aktaş, SSM Helicopters Department Head Mr. Hüseyin Avşar, SSM Sub-Systems Department Head Dr. Ata Şenlikçi, TEI Piston Engine Division Manager Mr. Erhan Bilgiç, Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation Factory Managers and many officials from the SSM, Uludağ University Chancellor Prof. Yusuf Ulcay, Bursa Technical University Chancellor Prof. Arif Karademir and approximately 50 members of BASDEC attended the workshop organized into 5 different sessions which lasted for two days.
SSM Deputy Undersecretary Dr. Celal Sami Tüfekçi: “Bursa will be a Pioneer in the Defense Industry with the Technological and Production Accumulation”
Addressing the participants with the opening remarks of the Workshop, Deputy Undersecretary for Defense Industries Dr. Celal Sami Tüfekçi shared comments on the defense and aerospace projects of the companies in Bursa. Underlining that Turkey needs to utilize its potential and experiences in strategic sectors in order to attain its goals, Dr. Tüfekçi emphasized the success achieved by Bursa in defense and aerospace with its power in automotive and machinery industries. Congratulating Bursa companies for their successful projects, Dr. Tüfekçi said, “With its industrial know-how and its production skills, I rely on the fact that Bursa will be gaining more success in defense and aerospace. I hereby congratulate all our companies for their successful and valiant effort in this area.”
BTSO Board Member “We Achieved a 600 Percent Export Boom in 2016”
BTSO Board Member Mr. İlker Duran stated that Bursa increased its potential in industries requiring high technology such as space, aviation and defense. Expressing that they wish to elevate Bursa to a position it deserves in Turkey and in the world with the belief that “Turkey will Grow when Bursa Grows” Mr. Duran said, “As Bursa’s business world, we wish to have a say in the goals of our country which put forth its will and capability to develop unique projects such as developing its unique Main Battle Tanks, Corvettes and helicopters. At this point our greatest assurances are our technical infrastructure, our entrepreneurial spirit and our qualified human resources. Companies of Bursa achieved an export increase of over 600 percent last year concerning the defense and aerospace industries. Despite the fact that the export figures of defense and aerospace are currently lower than the expected, the will and determination of our companies fill us with hope for the future in becoming the technological base of our region.”
President of Bursa Aerospace and Defense Cluster Dr. Mustafa Hatipoğlu shared important information with the participants on BTSO’s activities regarding projects, Development of International Competitiveness and clusters. Stating that BTSO developed the culture of taking joint action among the companies, Dr. Hatipoğlu underlined that unique aerospace and defense projects have been revealed as a result of this synergy. Dr.Hatipoğlu said, “The companies in our cluster contribute greatly to the strengthening of our industry through their unique projects. Approximately 75 member companies under the auspices of BASDEC acquire the capability of acting jointly in defense and aerospace. Thanks to this workshop, our members seized the opportunity to convey their projects and products to the bureaucrats.”
Innovative Products for Defense Industry from Bursa Companies
Bursa companies shared the details of their projects with the participants upon completion of the opening remarks. General Manager of Alida Company Mr. Fahri Dönmez explained the Aviation and Unmanned Air Vehicle Engine Development projects and shared the details of the ‘Kanatlı Katır’ Project which will enable the transfer of aid and military equipment in earthquake, disaster and war conditions. Mr. Dönmez stressed that with the help of the ‘Kanatlı Katır’ that is being developed and manufactured by the Alida, Er-Mir and Bemis companies, the rapid and secure transfer of aid and military equipment to the disaster and war zones, through autonomous and remote control, would be enabled.
Stating that the ‘Kanatlı Katır’ developed based on the principles of unmanned air cargo systems would not require a landing runway, Mr. Dönmez continued, “The equipment carried with the smart cargo module will be practically delivered to the user. The System in question has a quite low radar cross section due to its flex textile structure. Even if the engine is out, it is capable of landing with the help of a parachute and its endurance is 33 hours. This System is able to land on the identified point through the parachute and wings when airdropped from the aircrafts as well. The Project in question has the capacity of carrying a load of 350 kilograms and currently the prototype activities of this Project is rapidly progressing. We aim to be completed with the manufacturing of the prototype by next year and launch the tests.”
Mr. Emre Balcı, General Manager of Bizpark Company at Ulutek Teknopark conveyed to the participants the details of ‘Nefer’ – the military uniform of the future. Stating that critical studies were being conducted in Russia, Austria, America and Germany regarding the smart outfits, Mr. Balcı added that an interactive helmet was included in the ‘Nefer’ Project. Expressing that the air and pressure are being controlled with the sensors fitted on the body over this helmet, Mr. Balcı continued, “We wish to control the body and weapons, make calculations, determine the best way of shooting, and the level of gas and oxygen in the air through the motions with the help of the smart uniforms. The helmet contains night vision and thermal camera as well and the digital binoculars within the helmet enabling the soldiers to see distant locations.”
Mr. Balcı pointed out that they aim to manage the entire system over the helmet and added that they intend to complete the first prototype next January and launch the tests. Sharing information on the second phase of the ‘Nefer’ Project Mr. Balcı continued, “In the aftermath, as part of our Project, we plan to conduct the weapon control over the helmet, identify friendly and enemy troops through the helmet and reach a point which would enable us control the region through artificial intelligence. Moreover, there are activities regarding wound detection over the uniform and thus enabling immediate medical dressing to the point. We intend to create a smart uniform in this way.”
In his assessments at the end of the Workshop, Mr. Bilal Aktaş, Head of the Industrialization Department at SSM noted that the workshop hosted by the BTSO was quite fruitful and said, “Bursa companies are very enthusiastic regarding defense and aerospace production. We seized the opportunity to see these companies gathered under the roof of the cluster making their marks on very crucial projects. I believe that the players of the industry will be achieving quite different projects with the help of the culture of acting jointly.”
