Mark GOLDSACK: “Turkey is an Internationally-Important Defense, Space, and Security Market with a Strong Vision!”

Defence Turkey: It’s well known that UK and Turkish Defense Industry cooperation has strengthened in recent years.  How  do you assess the activities and achievements  performed over the years?

Mark GOLDSACK: I am delighted to be back at IDEF and my congratulations to all of those involved in organizing it given the challenges of the pandemic.  It is extremely exciting to see that UK and Turkish Industry are increasingly collaborating on major defense projects – this is a demonstration of our long-term strategic relationship, and we are jointly establishing initiatives to broaden the scope of industrial collaboration. I believe that two factors have driven these activities:  the continuing innovation of UK and Turkish Industries, and the ground-breaking range of programs that Turkey is undertaking.

Many of these programs - like the cooperation between BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace on the Turkish National Fighter Jet Program (TF-X), or Collins Aerospace’s work on the Environmental Control System on HURKUS – involve extensive collaboration from the design to engineering phase, demonstrating that UK and Turkish Industries are well-equipped to work together at all stages of the development cycle.  

Defence Turkey: In the coming days, what source of business opportunities could be considered or created for the Turkish and British Defense Industries?

Mark GOLDSACK: A large range of UK and Turkish Industry is represented at IDEF, so the possibilities of business opportunities are vast.  But two areas excite me the most:  the Turkish National Fighter Program (TF-X) and maritime capability.  

TF-X is an excellent opportunity for the UK and Turkey to combine our joint-expertise and design a world-class fighter aircraft that will be bespoke to Turkey’s operational needs. Over the course of this week, I look forward to progressing discussions on UK involvement in this program.  

With maritime capability, both the UK and Turkey have ambitious goals. The UK’s recently published Integrated Review places shipbuilding at the forefront of our technological and environmental innovations – driving the sector to be globally competitive in design, build, integration, test, and repair of naval vessels.  Likewise, Turkish Shipbuilding Industries have made tremendous developments with the national Corvette and Frigate projects, submarines, and search and rescue vessels. President ERDOGAN’s vision to have aircraft carriers, after successfully constructing LHD ship Anadolu, is one area for further discussion - after our extensive program to develop and bring into service the Queen Elizabeth Class of aircraft carrier.

Defence Turkey: What is your strategy for Turkey?  Is Turkey an important defense, space, and security market? 

Mark GOLDSACK: Turkey is an internationally-important defense, space, and security market with a strong vision – demonstrated via ambitious programs in combat air, training aircrafts, various types of helicopters, UAVs, sophisticated land and naval programs as well as aircraft carrier and Turkish space programs. The UK Defense Secretary’s praise of the innovation of the TB2 drone is testament to the impact of this approach.  The UK is working with Turkish ambitions across all sub-sectors, and we are supportive of Turkey’s emphasis on the indigenous development of its defense industrial base. We know that if Turkey seeks to collaborate with international partners, projects will need to maximize collaboration with local Turkish Industry. the UK Industry is well practiced in this approach, and the joint ventures present at IDEF are testament to this – like the partnership between Nurol and BAE Systems.  

The UK has built a significant presence in Turkey to support this engagement – including through the Department for International Trade, which has specialist staff in the British Embassy in Ankara and Consulates General located in Istanbul and Izmir.  These teams work with UK and Turkish industries daily to facilitate cooperation and increase defense industry trade between our countries.  

Defence Turkey: What are your upcoming events and bilateral meetings between Turkey and UK?

Mark GOLDSACK: The UK is attending IDEF with a large delegation, led by the Minister for Exports, Mr Graham STUART MP.  As Director of UK Defense and Security Exports, I am attending with my colleagues who will be regularly based at the UK Pavilion.  During his presence in Turkey, the Minister for Exports will also visit Istanbul Teknopark and businesses in the Istanbul and Kocaeli regions to promote UK-Turkey trade and investment. 

Throughout IDEF, I am looking forward to a busy schedule of meetings with governments and industry covering a wide spectrum of the programs I have mentioned. IDEF gives us a fantastic opportunity to meet and discuss in person again. We also will be  following other events in Turkey like the SAHA Expo later this year, and of course the UK is looking forward to hosting a large and vibrant Turkish delegation at DSEI in September this year. 

Defence Turkey: Thank you very much for the interview. Finally, would you like to give a message to our readers?

Mark GOLDSACK: Simply put, we would like to see increased trade and industry collaboration between our countries, building on the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between the UK and Turkey. Although defense is not part of these types of agreements, they demonstrate the political will of the UK Government to deepen our trading relationship. The UK Government delegation looks forward to progressing this agenda this week at IDEF.   

UK Industry also looks forward to supporting a strong Turkish Defense Industry this week - if you would like to speak to a member of my team, please do head over to the UK Pavilion, where we will be presenting a message of innovation, opportunity, and partnership