IDEX 2015: An International Meeting Point of Defence Industries
Starting as a small scaled regional fair in 1993, IDEX now gathers the region with the world and is presently regarded as an international center in which the newly emerged products are launched. Displaying a brilliant success in 2013, IDEX gathered 1112 companies, 150 official delegations from 59 countries in addition to over 750 journalists and 80.000 visitors from 51 countries in 2013. In 2015, over 1200 local and international companies and 159 official delegations from 56 countries and overall 100.000 visitors attended IDEX. By the end of the first three days, 33 contracts of approximately 5 billion USD worth were signed. This year a special exhibition place (named as UMEX) was allocated to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) which had been displayed in NAVDEX area in 2013. In UMEX space, the United 40 ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) MALE UAV, the development activities of which are continuing for United Arab Emirates (UAE) Naval Forces, was unveiled for the very first time and United 40’s improved version Block 7 with reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities was presented to the audience in UMEX as well. Moreover, at the static area right next to the UMEX space, Bell-Boeing production V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft and Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk were displayed. Japan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lithuania, New Zealand, Slovenia and Azerbaijan were the participant countries of this year’s fair dominated by England, United States of America and Germany. Turkey did not participate in IDEX 2015 on a national basis and was merely represented by 21 Turkish companies at the event. In IDEX 2015, Aselsan, Havelsan, Roketsan, FNSS, Otokar, STM, Yonca-Onuk, BMC, RMK Marine, Nurol Teknoloji, YDS, MKEK, Öztiryakiler, Sur Military, Foster, Erataş, T-Kalıp, Tezgen Otomotiv and Nekton Bot from Turkey were represented at the stands while Ares Shipyard displayed the fast intervention boat in NAVDEX space. Throughout the event Aselsan signed 3 cooperation agreements and Turkish companies unveiled their new products. FNSS launched the Pars 6x6 CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicle and ‘Saber’ 25mm one-man medium-caliber turret and MKEK unveiled the Indigenous Modern Infantry Rifle to the countries of the region for the first time after Eurostary 2014 event, just before IDEF. Not participating in the international events for a long time, BMC attended IDEX with companies’ Kirpi 4x4 and tactical wheeled vehicle. Roketsan’s laser guided 70mm “Cirit”, anti-tank missile “Mızrak-U”, Low and Medium Altitude Air Defence Missile “Hisar”, Stand-off Missile (SOM) were displayed at the event and Havelsan’s UAV Training System and F-16 Flight Simulator brought to the fair especially for the regional requirements drew the intense attention of the military officals of foreign countries throughout the fair. Otokar demonstrated the Arma 6x6 and Arma 8x8 vehicles with unique designs Bozok and Üçok turrets in addition to the amphibious version of Cobra II vehicle and the brand new single-cabin version of Kaya vehicle with a maximum load weight of 13 tons. Stating that they were participating in IDEF this year for the seventh time, Otokar General Manager Serdar Görgüç mentioned the test activities for the Amphibious Cobra II displayed at the region for the first time were continuing at full stream and extended information on the progress. Görgüç said, “Recently our Amphibious Cobra II vehicle has been subjected to hot climate and amphibian tests. The vehicle covered 5.000 km throughout the tests and successfully accomplished open sea floatation tests”. One of the major participants of the event, Aselsan, demonstrated STAMP and SARP weapon systems as well as correspondence and communication technologies.
Aselsan Man-Pack Direction Finding System Introduced at IDEX 2015
Aselsan has worked for a long time on Manpack V/UHF Direction Finding System and it was introduced for the first time at the IDEX 2015
With a frequency coverage range between 20-3000 MHz, it provides radio monitoring capabilities within a wide area using high altitude radar. All radios of enemies within the broad field can be listened and thus a wide network of intelligence will be provided for the operational units at the battlefield.
Compared to its compact size MILKED-3T4 man portable wideband DF equipment, it provides an accurate line of bearings with its signal processing capabilities and special DF algorithms. Portability, user friendliness, perfectly match the intelligence requirements of ground troops. MILKED-3T4 can be easily carried by two people and set-up and torn down within approximately 10 minutes. In addition, by combining the Line-of-Bearing (LOB) results, it can locate the target on a digital map. It can operate seamlessly within the temperature range of -30/+50°C without requiring any other power source, running on a battery powered to operate for up to 15 hours (with a spare battery set). Furthermore, the system also provides Audio Rec.Capacity (2 channels) with 150 hours providing the opportunity to closely listen and monitor.
The MILKED-3T4 for the time being is expected to be introduced to the world at a launching event within the scope of IDEF 2015.
Turkey dropped back at IDEX 2015
The political apathy that has been lingering between Turkey and UAE was reflected to the commercial relations. Despite its success especially at IDEF 2013 and leaving behind a year full of cooperation opportunities with the UAE, Turkey had quite an ineloquent time at the event and was kept at background due to political turmoil. This year Turkish companies’ participation was limited to 21 companies, where in 2011 a total of 41 companies attended and this figure increased to 58 companies in IDEF 2013. UAE and regional countries’ delegations did not show great interest to Turkish Stands. The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited the Turkish Stand on the second day of the event. President Petro Poroshenko showed close interest particularly to Roketsan’s Stand-off-Missile (SOM), 2.75’ laser guided “Cirit” missile and Anti-Tank Missile “Mızrak-UL” and had a meeting that lasted for nearly an hour with the executives of Roketsan. Thereafter President Petro Poroshenko visited Otokar Stand and obtained detailed information from Otokar representatives on Arma 8x8 and Amphibious Cobra II armored vehicles. On the other hand, Prince of Jordan and Bahrain Defence Force Chief of Staff and accompanying delegations paid visits to Aselsan and Roketsan stands during the event. The following event of 2017 is planned to be held in Abu-Dhabi and already 50% of the stands have been reserved so far.
