Savtek – The Defence Technology Congress of Turkey

6th SAVTEK, Turkey’s prominent biennial defence technology congress was organized on 20-21-22 June 2012 at Middle East Technical University, Ankara. With 195 presentations, the congress attracted more than 1100 participants during three days.SAVTEK congress series have been organized by the Middle East Technical University (BILTIR) and supported by the Turkish defence industry (SASAD), Turkish Armed Forces General Staff (Scientific Information Decision Support Centre-BILKARDEM), Land Forces (Land Forces War Collage) and Ministry of Defence (Undersecreteriat of Defence Industries-SSM, R&D Department of MND).

SAVTED 2012 continued the tradition of evaluation of Turkish defence industry and technology in past two years. Undersecretary for Defence Industries Mr. Murad Bayar presented a detailed analysis on the current status of Turkish defence industry and the 2012-2016 Strategic Plan of SSM (Undersecretariat for Defence Industries). He highlighted the importance of a "sustainable and competitive" industry. Within this scope he emphasised three major issues, namely, the importance of exports, contribution of defence industry to high technology public projects and providing logistic support for the systems and equipment delivered to Turkish Armed Forces.

SAVTEK 2012 covered almost all branches of defence technology. Invited presentations on electromagnetic engineering, underwater acoustics, electronic warfare, target tracking, protection and logistic support made very good introductions to a number of presentations in each of these fields. If we classify the presentations based on main fields we observe the concentration on the following:

•Electromagnetic/Radar/Antennas (15%)

•UAV/Fixed and Rotary Wing Aircraft (13%)

•Guidance/Control/Navigation (9%)

•Sonar/Underwater Technologies (7%)

Since 1970’s military electronics systems and equipment have been a priority area for Turkish Armed Forces and consequently for Turkish defence industry. In addition to rather "classical" fields such as communication, we see radar, missiles, electro-optics and battlefield management programs in recent years. As the highest decision authority chaired by the Prime Minister, Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) decided to support electro- optical programs, in 1992, we observed various programs such as tacticalEO sensors, thermal/CCTV cameras, sighting equipment and targeting pods etc. Hence it is not surprising that ASELSAN, leading company in electronics and electro-optics, contributed with the largest number of papers to SAVTEK2012.

Research projects around ANKA Unmanned Air Vehicle and HÜRKUŞ trainer aircraft were remarkable. We also noted that various technologies have been developed around the sonar system of MILGEM Program (design, development and building program of a corvette for Turkish Navy).

Similarly as autonomous control, sensors, information technologies have been designated as fields of networks of excellence MÜKNET (www.ssm.gov.tr ) we observed research projects and presentations at SAVTEK 2012 in these fields.

On the project/program management side of the congress, the emphasis was on the logistics. As the systems and equipment delivered by Turkish industry to Turkish Armed Forces increase, requirement for remodelling the present logistic system based on imported systems and equipment becomes an important agenda item. This requirement was introduced by Mr. Bayar in his opening presentation and detailed by SSM experts in special sessions at the congress.

Advanced cooling techniques for electronic or optical components was the subject of another invited presentation. Compared to others, this presentation was on a much-more specific subject. On the other hand audience was pleased to have the opportunity to be informed on state-of-the-art technology.

Based on decisions of the Defence Industry Executive Committee in 2012, we expect the concentration of projects and studies on subjects like air defence systems, space technologies, image processing, propulsion-engine and aircraft design in the following years.

From the universities point of view, Middle East Technical University have the advantage of being the largest technical university in the capital city where defence industry is concentrated. Hence METU contributed to SAVTEK sizably as in the previous years.

Reflexions on "University – Industry Cooperation"

SAVTEK congress series was initiated as a medium for defence community to discuss technology related issues rather than presentation of advanced scientific material. SAVTEK 2012, three days event with many presentations to large or small interest groups reflected this approach. Organization of the event in a university by academic people, on the other hand, highlights the much debated "university –industry cooperation" issue.

If we consider university-industry relations in a global perspective, especially towards the end of 20th century, we observe the inflation of speculative financial activities as the result of an incredible increase in the expenditure and market activities.This trend downsized scientific, engineering and industrial studies and science & engineering departments of universities lost ground. However this current discontinued with 2008 financial crises and the importance of concepts like industry, production, productivity and engineering re-gained their values.

In Turkey "University – Industry Cooperation", issues, problems, and proposals for solutions have been active issues for 30 years. But in parallel to the above mentioned global trend; trade, tourism and financial branches of higher education became popular in 80’s and 90’s. The shift of priority in universities affected industry as well. For example periodic surveys of industry for their "Resources of Technology and Innovation" indicated that universities have the last position in the list of more than 10 resources of technology (Turkish Statistical Institute-TÜİK, www.tuik.gov.tr).

After the 2008 crises, issues such asadvanced technology, innovation, global competitiveness of our industry became more pronounced in Turkey as well. In December 2011 Turkish Supreme Council for Science and Technology decided to develop legal and organizational infrastructure for this purpose (www.tubitak.gov.tr). After the experience of Common Research Centres for University and Industry Program-USOAMP, Platform of University – Industry Cooperation Centres – USIMP was established (www.usimp.org ) in this line.

As can be seen in the figures announced by Defence and Aerospace Manufacturers Association – SASAD (www.sasad.org.tr) Turkish defence industry weathered the storm of 2008-2009 relatively well. But in general university-industry relations in the defence field is not painless.As for industry in general, defence industry too has a requirement for technology rather than science and this substantiates the basic conflict between priorities of university and industry. A number of other difficulties originate from this conflict such as dissimilar understandings on schedule, cost, intellectual rights, dissemination of knowledge and commitmentissues.

SAVTEK 2012 indicated at least a partial solution to difficulties encountered in the university – industry cooperation. Studies displayed in the congress signified that a prerequisite for industry to cooperate with academic community is advance planning and requirement being supported by sufficient financial resources. Hence we observe difficulties and insufficiencies in defence field as well. But we also believe that the development of defence technology in Turkey provides a viable route for university – industry cooperation.