Lockheed Martin Offers Turkey to Become a Member of the Patriot Team

Defence Turkey: Mr. Joe Garland first of all thanks for this interview. As the Vice President and International Business Development of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) what is the most challenging task you face with in your assignment?

LM has spent years both developing trust with emerging partnerships and working to maintain that trust with existing partners. This mutual trust and respect is exemplified here in Turkey with the establishment years ago of Turkish Aerospace Industries, and it’s long time exceptional performance. As our customers face new and evolving threats and challenges, we as a corporation must evolve our relationship with them, to support their needs while at the same time being the steady partner they have grown to expect from Lockheed Martin.

Defence Turkey: Ms. Hewson announced the strategy of Lockheed Martin in a press meeting on February that ‘In 2014 we met our goal of achieving 20% of total sales outside the U.S’. Within the light of this statement what is your new goal in 2015?

We continue to see a rising demand for our products internationally. So, we believe that sales outside of the U.S. will grow as a percentage of our business, and will make up a significant portion of our sales for the foreseeable future.

Defence Turkey: What is your new marketing strategy specifically missile and control units in global regions in coming period?

Our global strategy at Missiles and Fire Control focuses on the evolving regional threats to our customers, MFC unique offerings to meet these threats, and US Government support to match these requirements with our offerings. As our partners capabilities continue to mature, new opportunities arise such as the recent relationship we have entered with Roketsan on SOM-J. I see many more of these joint partnerships in the future as we work closer with international customers and industrial partners.

Defence Turkey: Lockheed Martin and Roketsan signed an agreement for the modification of integration of SOM cruise missile to JSF programme in recently.Do you have any plans about marketing of SOM (export version) cruise missile with Roketsan to 3rd Countries and allied customers?

At this time, we are focusing our development efforts on the Turkish F-35 Lightning II fighter. We are coordinating with Roketsan on the path forward, and the possibilities of marketing to other allied countries.

Defence Turkey: Lockheed Martin delivered more than 2,000 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors (PAC-3) since the program started. Today, PAC-3 is in the inventory of 6 nations and you are on contact with 2 more. What about Turkey?

Lockheed Martin, as part of TeamUSA, consisting of Raytheon and the US Government, have provided Turkey with a compelling offer to purchase the PAC-3 system. At the request of the Turkish Government, and specifically the Underesecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), we have responded to a number of technical and economic questions. We are improving our industrial cooperation and technology transfer offer to Turkish industry a unique opportunity to participate as a source of Patriot system elements. This undertaking will provide Turkish industry with significant technology transfer to meet its indigenous growth objectives, while offering significant financial benefits. As you point out, PAC-3 is currently in the inventory of six nations, and we are offering the government of Turkey to become a member of the Patriot Team.

Defence Turkey: On March, Undersecretariat for Defence Industries Prof. İsmail Demir pointed out the future requirements of Turkish Armed Forces and said that “Would the system acquired today be sufficient for the struggle against the threats ten years later? If we settle with a direct procurement, we may be speaking of another procurement programme in 10-15 years’ time. Our aim is to have a technological competence through the acquisition of a technology within this period”. How do you approach to a proposal covering joint production, technology transfer and cost-effective options?

We understand the ambition of Turkey to develop its indigenous defense capability. Turkey is not alone in this desire, and Lockheed Martin understands how to cooperate in developing indigenous capabilities, where we bring risk mitigation and can offer a strategic partnership with the host country. Developing an indigenous capability such as in the arena of missile defense can be a costly and lengthy process. As the Government of Turkey develops its indigenization plans, Lockheed Martin can be a strategic partner in this endeavor.

Defence Turkey: THAAD system (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) a 100 % mission success in flight tests. The U.S. Army’s first operational THAAD system has been in service in Guam for nearly two years. There is a growing interest in the Middle East and in Asia for this system. Could you please share us the interest the allied countries and future of this technology?

We believe the interest in THAAD has to do not only with its total mission-success rate, which is perfect, but for several other reasons. THAAD is the only system designed for endo- and exo-battlespace, and it provides significant mass-raid protection. THAAD uses hit-to-kill technology, meaning it intercepts the incoming threat and makes direct body-to-body contact at extremely high speed, annihilating the threat. Lockheed Martin is the world leader in this technology, which is the most effective means of destroying incoming missiles. As the threats in this region evolve, a layered defense system based on PAC-3 and THAAD should be considered, and integrated among Turkey’s indigenously developed capabilities.

Defence Turkey: Would you like to add some remarks for our readers?

We place great value on the longstanding and positive relationships that Lockheed Martin has shared over the years with the Government of Turkey, and with Turkish industry. We are enthusiastic about continuing to build on that history, and we look forward to cultivating both existing and new relationships in Turkey.