Turkish Defence Industry’s 2014 Export Target is 2 Billion Dollars

Defence Industry Exports in 2014 Increased 36% Compared to the Previous Year

SSI’s Chairman Latif Aral Aliş indicated that exports of the Turkish defence industry has gained momentum every day in the last five years and said, “We have reached 1.2 billion dollars from 800 million dollars in the last two years. As of today we have exports of 1.4 billion dollars. Our target in the next two years is 2 billion dollars.” Stating that between January-February 2013 and January-February 2014 the increase in defence industry exports had reached around 36%, Aliş indicated that this increase was quite large when looked at the other sectors in the country. Aliş said, “This means selling technology; here the ideologies and strategies deployed are very important, for this reason the support provided by the SSM strengthens us.” Latif Aral Aliş indicated that with the policies put forth they will reach an export figure of 25 billion dollars in defence, aerospace, security and services in 2023.

Providing information on the exports to Qatar in the last few years, Aliş said that exports to Qatar in 2012 was 4 million USD, 9.5 million in 2013 and during the six months of 2014 had reached 18 million USD. Continuing his remarks Aliş said, “At the present time Turkey’s average unit price per kilo of exports is 1.5 dollars, this figure has risen to an average 26 dollars in the defence industry, when you include aerospace this number is around 150-200 dollars. This is a very important situation.”

The maritime projects between Turkey and Qatar is developing each day. It is stated With the mutually beneficial collaboration established with the organisations and authorities of the Qatari Armed Forces during the last ten years Turkey is conducting work based on long-term trust. The relationship between the Turkish Armed Forces and the Qatari Armed Forces has begun to expand in recent years.  Military delegation visits and a beneficial collaboration between the two countries on training and logistics have been formed in recent years. The results and outputs of this effective collaboration have begun to take shape. In the past three years the contracts signed with Qatar has surpassed 120 million USD. In the period ahead Turkey has targeted on signing similar new and large projects. In fact, Turkey may undertake work to plan in producing certain products here. Mentioning that the defence ministry had been established in Qatar, also it is inform that previously the newly established defence ministry was represented by the Chief of Staff. At the moment the establishment of a defence ministry has commenced. One of the important missions of the Qatari Defence Ministry is to develop its defence industry which was expressed in our meeting today. At the present time there is no concrete step in this direction but we have had effective meetings on the subject of collaboration.

In the transition from land vehicles to sea vehicles and from there to air vehicles in the area of exports, it is emphasised that an increase in technological dimensions as well in value added took place and stated, “In the period ahead by realising the sale of indigenous national air vehicles we are targeting to substantially increase this value added.”

MILGEM is Competing in the Corvette Tender in Qatar

Answering a question on the on-going programs in Qatar, it is said that the Coast Guard Boat Project in Qatar was continuing at the present time and that certain additional purchases were on the agenda. Stating that the Coast Guard Boat and Patrol Boat projects in Qatar had reached a mature stage and that these projects were continuing, it is indicated that MILGEM was competing in the tender on corvettes to meet the needs of the Qatari Naval Forces. It is said that the Qatari Naval Forces do not at the moment have a ship of this size. They need to bring to maturity their work a little more and identify their needs. The tender process will take shape based on the decision on how the ship portfolio of the Qatari Naval Forces will be composed. Turkey doesn’t think that in this tender a decision will be taken in the short-term.”

MILGEM’s overseas marketing activities, after the cancellation of the series production tender, will be carried out by STM. It is indicated that as a matter of fact, it should be described in the following way: Turkey will market it and Turkey will sell it. The Turkish industry takes place in a strong manner in this project and for this reason we have given the responsibility to STM.” Aside from maritime systems and platforms, other important exports to Qatar had taken place. Turkey has delivered its mini UAVs and they have started to be used. In addition, pilot simulator training for the helicopter training is being carried out by Havelsan. Certain jammer systems have been delivered by Turkish companies. We have formed a very important portfolio in a country such as Qatar which does not have large defence expenditures. 

Turkey is conducting serious concrete meetings with 5-6 countries for the ATAK Advanced Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter

Answering questions relating to the export activities of the ATAK Helicopter. It is stated that, “It is not very easy to export attack helicopters. In a short period, in a two-month period, it is not possible to export these helicopters. If you are going to sell an attack helicopter you will need a 1-2 year period. At the moment there is serious interest from four or five countries. We had concrete meetings. However, these will advance within a process.  Deliveries to the Turkish Armed Forces as well as how does Turkey place the needs of other countries here? All of this must be planned together. This requires a comprehensive way of doing it.”

Emphasising that in the A and B configurations of the Turkish Armed Forces a total of 59 packages of ATAK Helicopter purchases will take place and that a production plan had been done in this regard. It is added that “At the moment 5-6 have come off the production line, the remaining are on the production line, the stages and deliveries will continue over the next five years. This means that it will be a continuous production line during the next five year period. All of this will provide the opportunity for other countries to be fit in between. Whereas in a stationary production line orders can be delivered at the earliest between 24 and 36 months, a continuous line provides various opportunities, flexibility and putting in new helicopters.”