Turkey’s Geographical Position and Military Strength is so Important for Avon Protection’s Entry into the Asian Markets

Defence Turkey: Mr. Evans, Could you please enlighten about us about general structure, the core capabilities and products of Avon Protection?

Avon’s pedigree and expertise in respiratory protection stretches back a long way - as far back as World War 1. Then Avon manufactured gas masks which were deployed to protect military troops against chemical gas attacks on the battlefield.

Avon Protection’s evolving global customer base not only includes military forces but also civil and first line defense troops, emergency service teams and industrial, marine, mineral and oil extraction site personnel. With the growth of CBRN threats, many of our customers now have to face the threat of asymmetric warfare. This is where attacks come at anytime, in any environment, and often from an unknown enemy.

To meet this new threat, a higher level and more versatile form of protection is required. Only the Avon 50 series of mask offers this level of respiratory protection. For example, Avon’s advanced 50 series respiratory technology has been chosen by the Pentagon to equip US troops with our specially developed M50 joint services CBRN mask – currently used by in many front lines of defense scenarios, including Afghanistan.

Defence Turkey: Could you please inform us about your ongoing programmes in both local and global markets?

Avon’s relationship with the Turkish CBRN defense program goes back many years, when the Turkish government adopted the British S6 military mask, then manufactured in the UK by Avon, for manufacture in Turkey. However, Avon has yet to persuade Turkey to adopt our latest generation 50 series of military masks which we believe could dramatically enhance Turkey’s CBRN defense program, not just for your military but also to provide protection for your law enforcement, emergency service and first responder sectors.

We believe that this would dramatically improve protection levels against asymmetric warfare threats but also for emergency services called out to assist during natural disasters like earthquakes as well as industrial or transport accidents.

Avon is currently developing its global market by applying our respiratory protection technology and product range beyond the traditional military sectors. Already our masks and SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) systems are being adopted by US law enforcement and fire service departments across the country. While law enforcement teams throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia have been quick to recognise and apply our military mask range for their own protection in CBRN scenarios, such as riots or civil unrest.

Defence Turkey: Recently Avon Protection has entered into a formal partnership with the world-leading CamelBak hydration equipment brand. This agreement extends Avon Protection CBRN Range. How do you assess Avon’s CBRN capabilities?

The threat of CBRN is no longer restricted to military personnel or to the battlefield. Growing civil unrest, necessitating the use of riot gas and the threat from terrorist use of chemical agents has dramatically increased Turkish government awareness of the need to provide advanced respiratory protection systems for your country’s defence, law enforcement and first responder personnel. We believe that our world-class systems can dramatically enhance this program of defense.

Defence Turkey: What are your R&D activities?

Respiratory technology has to work hard to keep pace with the other technological advances in the defence and security sector. In particular, CBRN respiratory protection has to compliment other protective equipment such as CBRN suits and footwear, SCBA systems, and helmets.

In addition, Avon recognises that the burden and discomfort of wearing protective equipment needs to be addressed through easy to access hydration carriers, light and compact air support systems and easy to use integral communications systems. That is why Avon is working alongside other key manufactures in these areas to provide one-stop solutions to CBRN protection, while developing our own products – such as our new EZAir light and compact air-flow system; or our new Camelbak hydration system.

Our masks are often used for considerable lengths of time, so comfort and fit are essential.

Defence Turkey: Turkey has been a strategic and promising market for Global companies. Could you please enlighten us about your activities and ongoing programmes in Turkey?

Turkey’s dramatic economic growth and huge industrial expansion, as well as its geographical location will face Turkey with large challenges for its defense and security agencies in combating CBRN threats. Its strong military presence and strategic importance also points to a need for aligning its CBRN protective equipment with its military allies such Europe and the US, which deploy our masks in existing and shared military arenas like Afghanistan.

For this reason, Avon is anxious to help advance Turkey’s CBRN defense program through the adoption of our advanced 50 series of masks and supporting respiratory systems, which we believe could provide a highly cost-effective replacement for the current S6 variant, currently in place.

To this end, we have recently recruited a new regional sales team and agent whose brief is to strengthen the communication links between Avon and the Turkish government’s department of defense.

Defence Turkey: It is known that you have cooperation with MKEK. Could you please inform us in details? What are your activities that you are carrying out with other Turkish Companies?

We have established a valuable relationship with Turkey’s defense industry’s manufacturing capability and Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu. Further to our current R&D program and our plans for growing our strategic partnership with manufacturers of complimentary equipment such as CBRN suits, helmets and military vehicles, Avon is exploring opportunities with key Turkish companies in this sector. This is in recognition that joint partnerships are a vital path towards mutual growth in the military defense equipment market - both nationally and globally.

Defence Turkey: Do you have any cooperation with Turkish companies for 3rd markets?

Turkey’s geographical position and military strength marks it as a vital path for developing Avon’s entry into the central Asian military markets. That is why our joint partnership program in Turkey is so important for our global marketing strategy.

Defence Turkey: Finally, would you like to add something and give a message to our readers?

The military defense arena has changed dramatically in recent years. And defense tactics, including the application of respiratory protective equipment, must recognise this new age of asymmetric warfare; because terrorism, civil unrest and riot, drugs and subterfuge invariably involve the threat or deployment of chemical and biological agents or weapons. Add to this the requirement to meet challenges thrown up by natural disasters -such as earthquakes, regional or global pandemics as well as industrial or transport accidents, - then the vital role that respiratory protection equipment and continuing advancements in supporting technology now plays in any country’s defense program is clearly evident.