New Year, New Hopes for Turkey and Defence Industry

Ayşe AKALIN Publisher & Editor in Chief

I would like to greet all readers of Defence Turkey with a new editorial team. This issue was prepared for IDEX 2007 Exhibition and to be presented all participant companies of the Exhibition.

Turkey develops indigenous systems through technologies bought from abroad. The SSM has formed a division to promote Turkish defence companies abroad; it was made its first appearance at the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi .

Today, local industry participation in defence industry projects has increased significantly. Last year, two important steps were taken; one is A400M Transport Aircraft project and Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), now called the Lightining II. The Airbus A400M project, which is considered as one of the most important elements of European defense in the future.

Turkey has a share of 5.6% in the project, which covers a total of 196 planes. As part of this, Turkish Aviation Industry facilitaties will contribute to the production of A400M planes. The other significant agreement is JSF. Turkey’s Air Force has selected the U.S.-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), over Europe’s Eurofighter Typhoon for the NATO nation’s 15-year, $10 billion program. The new-generation fighter program, Turkey’s largest defense procurement project, is designed to replace the Air Force’s aging F-16 and F-4E aircraft starting in the mid-2010s.

Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi GONUL visited to the U.S. in the last week of January to sign a JSF jets cooperation project

. The Minister was the official guest of his U.S. counterpart Robert Gates and signed the project for JSF.

You will find much more Turkish Defence Industry news in the issue; featuring an interview with Murad BAYAR, the Undersecretary of SSM, on the future projects and future role of Turkish Defence Companies. The reports from defence institutions, experts and Turkey’s perspective and preparations on the FP7 (7th Framework Programme).

The purpose of Defence Turkey is to provide the defence at large, and anyone interested in Turkey and Turkish Defence Industry, a balanced view about Turkish events and news related to Turkey. The information in Defence Turkey is compiled from a variety of resources. We claim to be a “bridge” role between companies and Defence Industry officials.

Enjoy the third issue...