New Era of Turkish-Polish Defence Industry Cooperation
Turkey has been the guest of honor of this year’s MSPO. Turkey attended the fair as the “leader country” status and made a strong impression. Turkey has been the center of attention of the participants from all over the world with her national stand of 1400 square meters and 13 prominent defence companies participating in the fair under the auspices of Undersecretariat for Defence Industries.
Bronislaw Komorowski, President of Poland and İsmet Yılmaz, National Defence Minister made the official opening of the fair together. İsmet Yılmaz, National Defence Minister made a speech at the opening ceremony and said “We shall celebrate the 90th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic cooperation between Poland and Turkey in 2014”. Yılmaz underlined the importance attached to the mutual cooperation in military and defence industry areas with the ally countries and added that Poland was among such countries.
Yılmaz also had talks on various issues with the President, Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Poland at the MSPO fair. A conference focusing on the cooperation in defence industries of the two countries has been organized within the scope of the fair. Visited by the Polish President, Minister of Defence and other officials, Turkish pavilion has been the focus of attention of top-level participants. Air defence, navigation, armored vehicles and R&D have been the main areas of cooperation in the fair. İsmet Yılmaz, National Defence Minister and the accompanying delegation visited the Turkish stand on the first day of the fair and were informed about the products by the representatives of the companies. Foreign delegations from various countries were interested in Turkey’s stands throughout the fair. Polish President Bronislav Komorovski and Polish Minister of Economy, military and defence officials of Mozambique, Libya, Jordan, Norway, Finland and Azerbaijan visited the Turkish stands as well.
Otokar Getting Ready to Enter Polish Market
Aselsan displayed ACAR Ground Surveillance Radar, Pedestal Mounted Stinger, Electro-optical System Solutions and Military Communication Systems at the MSPO Fair where Turkey has been represented with a total of 13 companies and associations. Havelsan demonstrated the Genesis Command Control System, Electronic Warfare Test and Training Range (EWTTR) and Flight Simulators during the Fair. Additionally, a MoU on Command Control Systems, Naval System Modernization Programs and various other naval projects was signed between Havelsan and Polish Stocznia Gdynia Naval Shipyard on the first day of the Fair. With its Ship Integrated Combat Management System- GENESIS Project, Havelsan was awarded with Poland’s most prestigious Defender Award. Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation signed an agreement covering the potential business opportunities with HSW Company of Poland as well. Otokar, one of Turkey’s most prominent land platform manufacturers, displayed Cobra Open Turret Personnel Carrier and Arma 6x6 Open Turret Armored Personnel Carrier vehicles at the Fair. Otokar’s General Manager Serdar Görgüç mentioned that there has been a great interest in Otokar’s products from the Polish Delegation and various Asian countries and that they were evaluating the cooperation opportunities while conducting activities based on sub-systems with several Polish firms.
Görgüç mentioned Poland’s need of 6x6 personnel carrier vehicles and continued, “Correspondences regarding this issue have been proceeding. Main product is the personnel carrier vehicle. This is a new process and I hope that positive developments emerge in the future”. Görgüç stated that Poland issued a Request for Proposal on Light Tanks in December and said that they were closely following this Project but this Project has been proceeding slower than they expected. Görgüç evaluated the latest state of play of Altay Tank’s test studies and mentioned that they were conducting the firing and driving tests of MTR and FTR vehicles and said “We accomplished several instrumental firings in June and July. We made a short break in August and as of December we are initiating the firings again”.
Roketsan participated to the MSPO Fair that lasted for two days and displayed Cirit 2.75” Laser Guided Missile that entered into the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory in 2012 and which is greatly demanded in foreign markets, UMTAS anti-tank missile, 107 mm Artillery and 122mm Artillery solutions. TAI demonstrated combat and reconnaissance helicopter ATAK, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle “Anka” and Turkish Basic Trainer Aircraft “Hürkuş” models at the Fair.
Poland to Make Military Investments of 45 Billion USD between years 2013-2022
As one of the former Warsaw Treaty Organization Members, Poland’s international stance altered greatly as it became a member of the NATO in 1999 and of the European Union in 2004. Following the progresses in those years Poland started to become a prominent country with an important defence market while also contributing to the international peace forces. Poland increased its investments in defence almost at a rate of 60 percent and regulated that military investments shall correspond with minimum 1, 95 % of its gross domestic product. Poland delayed its armament and modernization program due to the military budgetary cuts and economic crisis in the USA and Europe in 2013, but is expected to accelerate this program in 2014. Within the scope of this program; Air Defence Systems, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Radar Systems, General Purpose and Combat Helicopters and various weapon systems are intended to be brought to Polish Armed Forces. A defence expenditure of 45 billion USD is foreseen for the armament and modernization of the Polish Armed Forces between years 2013-2022 within the framework of the project.
