Roketsan Aims to Take Part in “Defence News Top 100” List with its Current Projects and Products in 2016
Defence Turkey: Firstly, we would like to thank you for your time. You, as Roketsan, have accomplished 2011 successfully in terms of production, investment and sale as per the figures. Could you please make us a brief evaluation of 2011?
2011 was very hectic similar to previous years and we left 2011 behind with new successes despite the economic recession in all over the world. At the beginning of 2011, a new organizational structure was established in Roketsan focusing on product and technology.
Through market development studies, the total remaining project contract value reached nearly 4 billion TL as of the end of 2011. With its unique design, development, manufacturing and custom solutions such as Cirit, Umtas, Omtas, DSH, 107 mm, 122 mm and 300 mm Artillery Systems, Roketsan has been moving forward rapidly in order to be a global company. Roketsan is accepted as a reliable brand with its fully indigenous design products not only by Turkish Armed Forces but also allied states.
Roketsan, serving both the defence of our country as well as friendly and allied states, has been significantly contributing to the strengthening of Turkey’s technological infrastructure together with its increasing diversified and qualified subcontractors. Roketsan has become a sound defence industry organization, performing activities with 1400 success-oriented experts at 4 different locations and 120 buildings established on a total of 2.000.000 m² space, 75.000 m² of which is an indoor area.
Roketsan initiated activities in 1988 with 25 core personnel and reached 550 personnel at its 10th anniversary and as of today the number of personnel is nearly 1500 (50% of which is engineers) as a result of the requirements due to the increasing number and scope of projects. The sales figures of Roketsan in 2007 were recorded as 124 million TL in 2007; 279 million TL in 2011 and are expected to be 496 million TL in 2012. 39.5% of the total sales in the last 5 years generated from export sales. The system design projects also have significant shares within our projects together with mass production. Besides, a resource is allocated from Roketsan equities for R&D and technology development activities each year.
With our sales volume and missile technology, we are progressing rapidly and with confidence to be amongst top 50 companies that lead the global market
Defence Turkey: Istanbul Mineral and Metal Exporters’ Association (İMMİB) awarded a grand prize to Roketsan amongst its members for the best exportation performance in "Machinery Products" category in 2011. The export revenue has a significant share in Roketsan’s 2011 sales volume. Could you please inform us on your products and capabilities as well as the current markets that you are performing activities? What are the projects and programs being currently executed in other countries?
Within the scope of its studies in line with its vision, Roketsan has been performing the export of Ground-to-Ground and Air-to-Ground Rocket / Missile, which was developed and manufactured with its technological infrastructure and vast knowledge, and the sub-components of these systems such as the Control Propulsion System, Rocket Engine, Warhead, Launcher Unit.
Our export activities have been continuing to 5 different countries (USA, Italy, Norway and United Arab Emirates) within the scope 9 different programs.
In addition to local development and production studies, Roketsan has also been continuing market development activities from the Continent of America to Far East; from South Africa to Northern Europe. Roketsan has become known as a brand amongst world’s giant defence industry companies.
Besides, the studies for the export of 2.75" Laser Guided Missile "Cirit"; Long Range Anti-Tank System "Umtas"; Multiple Launch Rocket System to new markets have been continuing.
Within the scope of indigenous product development studies, an efficient promotion has been made in international market for Cirit, Umtas, Omtas and DSH systems, which are being developed for the requirements of Turkish Armed Forces. An efficient marketing activity has been carried out for the establishment of Munitions Disposal Facilities (MIGYEM) and Munitions Surveillance Facilities (MAAT) by Roketsan as per the requirements of allied states.
Defence Turkey: Roketsan has been developing many indigenous systems to be used at Attack Helicopters in line with the requirements of Turkish Armed Forces such as 2.75" Laser Guided Missile "Cirit"; Long Range Anti-Tank System "Umtas"; Multiple Launch Rocket System "Omtas". In addition, the development studies for composite armor for Altay tank have also been continuing. Could you please inform us on the current status of such indigenous systems?
The mass production of Turkey’s first "indigenous" missile system Cirit was launched. The first delivery was made to Turkish Armed Forces in May 2012. Cirit missile, which was fully developed by Turkish engineers and produced in Turkey, will be one of the major weapons of T-129 Atak, which is Turkey’s first "indigenous" attack helicopter. The partial deliveries will continue to be made until 2014.
The development tests and pre-qualification studies of Umtas and Omtas Projects are still continuing. In Umtas Project, firing tests from helicopter were launched and tactical configuration was mostly achieved. The benefits of Umtas studies are being enjoyed at maximum in Omtas Project, in line with the technological integrity; the firing tests were launched and successful results have been recorded in Control Test Missile firings.
One of the foremost gains achieved in Umtas and Omtas Projects is that the indigenous anti-tank missile systems of our country are taken part in the inventory. When it comes to sub-components and the related critical technologies, local technological gains are being achieved in the fields not studied or industrialized before such as the development of MEMS-based inertial measurement unit; warhead technologies for high performance armor piercing; infrared image detection helmet with non-cooling detector, RF data link allowing two-way wireless data transfer between missile and firing platform.
Owing to their high technology and performance, Umtas and Omtas are considered to have significant export potentials. Thanks to its modular design, Umtas is a system that would be used against all current modern main battle tanks with its current version or different detection helmets to be developed upon request and has features to be integrated with attack helicopters and other platforms.
Altay Project, Armor System Development activities are continuing in accordance with the project schedule. The Conceptual Design Phase and Pre-design Phase were completed successfully with the approval of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industry. Being currently at Detailed Design Phase, on one hand the contractual studies are being carried and on the other hand the related studies regarding the mass production are being performed.
Through the Ballistic Protection Center (BKM) established within the scope of the Contract and gathered the designing, testing and manufacturing capabilities in a single facility in the field of heavy armor technology for the first time in Turkey, not only the protection needs of Altay tanks, but also the ballistic protecting needs of Turkey are met. This technology center aims to monitor and coordinate the studies made and to be made in the field of armor technology in Turkey. The vision of BKM is to become an Armor Excellence Center of our country in the fields of heavy and light armor design, development and production; be amongst the companies leading the world market in the field of ballistic protection technologies through unique product design capability, advanced technology and testing capability.
Though it is newly opened, BKM is also generating ballistic protection solutions in order to meet the needs of Turkish Armed Forces even in other projects except for Altay.
Defence Turkey: Roketsan signed MoU with Eurocopter in 2011 IDEF fair for the integration of 2.75" Laser Guided Missile "Cirit" with EC 635 helicopter platforms. The firing tests of "Cirit" are planned to be realized in the South Africa with the participation of senior military officials from many countries in 2012. What is the current status of this MoU? Are there any studies being performed in order for "Cirit" to be used in other Eurocopter helicopter platforms such as Tiger? In which foreign markets do you plan to enter with "Cirit"?
Our first indigenous missile Cirit, which was developed by Roketsan, has many innovations compared to its other competitors in the market. In addition to its first launch for mass production in the market, it is the only missile that has 8 km range, multi-purpose warhead and insensitive munitions. Besides, since it was developed through local possibilities, it is not subject to certain international restrictive regulations such as ITAR and as a result it comes to the forefront in certain markets.
Within this context, not only the military authorities but also the platform (helicopter, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Land Vehicle, and etc.) manufacturers have interest on Cirit. As you also mention, the integration studies of Cirit with EC635 Platform are still underway. Unfortunately, the planned firing was delayed due to the administrative reasons arisen in Eurocopter. We will be realizing such firings at a later time. Besides, we have started negotiations for the integration with Eurocopter’s Tiger Platform with German MBDA Company. The negotiations are proceeding positively and I think we will give good news to you soon.
Similar studies are in progress also with other platform manufacturers. The international promotion, proposal and sale activities for the integration of Cirit missile also on Machine Gun Pods (such as FN Herstal), Armored Land Vehicles, Fixed Wing Light Aircrafts and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are being carried out.
The production studies of Cirit missile and Cirit Intelligent Pod System (CAPS) for T-129 ATAK Helicopter are still ongoing and no schedule related problem is expected.
Defence Turkey: Are there any plans in the future to implement Medium and Long Range Anti-Tank Missiles and Laser Guided "Cirit" programs especially on land and marine platforms except for air platforms? If so, how do you think the capabilities gained through this provide benefit for international platforms?
As a mentioned before, the integration studies of Cirit with certain platforms (Helicopter, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Land Vehicle, and etc.) in the international market are still continuing. We will be demonstrating the different platform implementations of such systems through agreements to be signed in international market in 2012 and the next year. Umtas system, like Cirit, will also be fired from these platforms. We have developed a launcher system that is to be jointly used by Cirit and Umtas. Each market development and marketing activity made for Cirit today will also create a potential market for Umtas. This will provide us a significant strategic and financial advantage during the marketing of Umtas.
Defence Turkey: What are the activities that you are carrying out with global defence companies? What are your studies for the sale of final products as a result of such alignments to the third world countries?
The awards granted to Roketsan can be shown as an indicator for its successful studies made with world’s giant companies.
Within the scope of PATRIOT Controlling Unit Production Project, our customer Raytheon IDS granted Roketsan "2011 Supplier Excellence Award" on May 12th, 2012 in Boston / USA for Roketsan’s 2011 studies, quality, performance and on time delivery.
Also, again within the scope of PATRIOT Controlling Unit Production Project, Roketsan was honored with a "Preferred Raytheon Patriot Supplier" certificate due to its 2010 and 2011 Excellence Awards. The certificate was presented to me on behalf of my company on May 7th, 2012 in Boston / USA.
Raytheon Company, which is amongst the biggest weapon manufacturers in the world and the main contractor of PATRIOT, selected Roketsan as its strategic partner for the production of Patriot GEM-T Missile Controlling Unit in 2009. Roketsan is proud of being honored by Raytheon amongst its 5.000 subcontractors.
Succeeding again this year as the last year with an award by a big defence company, having lots of subcontractor around the world, is one of the most important proofs of our highest quality and performance commitment to our customers.
Similarly, during ATC in USA, we signed MoU with Lockheed Martin for the production and sale of single canisters of PAC-3 Missiles by Roketsan. The studies on this are underway.
Also, the rocket engines of OTOMAT missile, in addition to ASPIDE program realized with MBDA for the requirements of the third world countries, will also be developed and produced by Roketsan. We signed this agreement in 2012. Our more comprehensive cooperation studies with MBDA are still continuing. I hope we and MBDA will share with you the news on recent programs in the near future.
Our studies for the production of NSM Launcher with Norwegian KONSBERG Company are proceeding in line with the contract and schedule.
Defence Turkey: What are your short and long-term market strategies and targets in the international market?
Roketsan, on the 100th Anniversary of our Republic, aims to "be the leading company in missile and rocket technologies from underwater to space and become amongst the world’s top 50 companies directing the world market with its unique products and advanced technology, sales volume and missile technologies" with its "serving to the country’s defence with rocket and missile systems and contributing to Turkey’s technological infrastructure" mission and in line with its vision.
The orders of Roketsan have reached over 2 billion US$ with local and foreign project contracts signed since 2008. With the projects aimed to be concluded within the next 5 years, we aim to keep the current orders at least 2,5 billion US$.
On the other hand, Roketsan aims to take part in "Defense News Top 100" list with its current projects and products in 2016 and everyone in Roketsan will do his share in achieving this goal.
