Highlights from ROKETSAN`s Press Conference
The press conference started with a briefing by Prof. Faruk YİĞİT regarding ROKETSAN's activities in 2023. Emphasizing their ambition to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic with remarkable accomplishments, YİĞİT outlined ROKETSAN's performance in 2022 as follows: “In 2022, we successfully boosted our company's turnover by over 9 percent in US Dollars compared to the prior year, reaching a total of USD 863 million. This translates to TRY 14.3 billion in revenue, reflecting an impressive 103 percent increase compared to the previous year. Furthermore, in 2022, we expanded the share of international sales within our turnover to 32 percent. Our objective for the upcoming year is to further raise this proportion to 50 percent. To further achieve sustainable growth, we have made substantial investments in research and development (R&D). As one of the largest R&D organizations in our country, we allocated 17.48 percent of our turnover to R&D in 2022, resulting in a total R&D expenditure of TRY 2,287,575,000. Looking ahead to 2023, we anticipate an R&D expenditure of TRY 3,163,601,000. In 2022, we welcomed 1,536 new domestic suppliers into our ecosystem, increasing our total number of domestic suppliers to 1,823. Additionally, the proportion of domestic materials used in our projects rose to 87 percent. As we consider 2023 the year of export and investment, ROKETSAN is on track to double its capacity in 2024, marking a significant stride toward fulfilling long-term demands.”
Murat İKİNCİ stated that 2023 has been a pivotal year for ROKETSAN, with a strong focus on exports and investments. He emphasized the company's vigorous efforts to enhance both its export and production capacities, which include the ongoing development of more than 40 undisclosed R&D projects. İKİNCİ also provided insights into one of the new products set to make its debut at IDEF 2023, the BURÇ Close-In Air Defense System, which is based on FNSS's PARS İZCİ 8x8 Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle. Addressing the significant challenges posed by factors like kamikaze drone attacks and helicopter threats on the battlefield, İKİNCİ highlighted the development of the BURÇ Close-In Air Defense System as an R&D initiative aimed at mitigating these risks. He elucidated that the BURÇ system incorporates two weapon systems: the SUNGUR Air Defense Missile, housed in two 4-pods, and a 20 mm x 102 mm cannon featuring a 3-barreled, Gatling-type automatic design, manufactured by TR Mechatronics. İKİNCİ explained, "These two weapon systems are synchronized to offer close air defense support for deployed troops and point-defense. What sets BURÇ apart is its AESA radars (S-Band, 4x antenna, capable of detecting a 1m2 RCS target up to 20km+), which provide a full 360-degree hemispherical coverage. Additionally, it incorporates an electro-optical system for targeting and seamlessly integrates into the radar network. It also boasts communication capabilities with command-and-control systems. It can autonomously engage targets or follow commands from the central control system. With these advanced capabilities, we are confident that BURÇ will deliver dynamic and cost-effective air defense support. We believe that it has significant export potential and will fully meet the requirements of our Armed Forces.” IKİNCİ also highlighted that BURÇ's compact and streamlined design is specifically optimized for countering nearby drones rather than those at a distance. This is the reason behind the selection of the 20 mm Gatling gun as the primary weapon system. He emphasized that BURÇ will efficiently defend against drones, especially those within an 8 km range, by utilizing SUNGUR as the primary weapon system, with its capabilities poised to further expand through the integration of LEVENT missiles in the upcoming phase. İKİNCİ also mentioned plans to refine SUNGUR's missile for targeting drones in the future.
Murat İKİNCİ emphasized that ROKETSAN has consistently placed a high priority on meeting the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces from the very beginning. Concurrently, the company has strategically focused on developing products with significant export potential, intended for a global market. He also highlighted the recent successful launch of the ÇAKIR Cruise Missile earlier this year. Regarding ROKETSAN's export activities, he added: “We secured an export contract for ÇAKIR even before its completion, highlighting the strong international demand for our products. Despite its compact size, ÇAKIR stands out as one of the most capable, advanced, and efficient cruise missiles available today. Achieving its first successful launch in less than a year provides valuable insights into ROKETSAN's impressive R&D and production capabilities.”
Murat İKİNCİ also provided insights into ROKETSAN's participation in the NATO Defense Ministers meeting, where BAYKAR was also present. He emphasized the significant demand for guided munitions driven by the current geopolitical landscape within NATO and globally. İKİNCİ stressed that the world's existing production capacity falls short of satisfying this demand. The primary objective of the NATO meeting, as İKİNCİ highlighted, was to explore strategies for enhancing and optimizing production capacity to meet the heightened demand. He further noted that ROKETSAN has the potential to serve both European nations and countries worldwide, adding, "Every NATO member is in need of expanding their existing stocks, which signifies substantial potential for our company."
Murat İKİNCİ also shared details about the UAV-230 Air-to-Surface Ballistic Supersonic Missile, highlighting its game-changing potential. He said, "This technology is truly revolutionary, not just because it incorporates cutting-edge advancements, but also because it's a product that we can easily produce right now. These missiles can be launched from UAVs capable of reaching much greater distances than traditional surface-to-surface versions. This provides our Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) with a deep strike capability. Additionally, these missiles exceed the speed of sound, flying at several times the speed of sound, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of our UCAVs, especially when eliminating air defense elements remotely. As I mentioned, their testing phase has been successfully completed, and we are currently in the process of serial production.
Murat İKİNCİ also shared insights about TAYFUN, a strategic weapon system, emphasizing that its serial production is currently in progress. He stated, "TAYFUN won't be limited to just a single missile or system; it will expand into a versatile product family. And it will be among the systems we'll witness in the field, featuring various versions, diverse warheads, and distinct capabilities.”
In his speech, İKİNCİ provided details about the Sonda Rocket, highlighting its goal to achieve a 300 km range by the end of this year while having the capability to carry a 100 kg payload
