In the light of SSM’s new strategic plan for 2012-2016, one of the primary strategic goals is to provide high level competency in defense and security technologies that will enable Turkish Armed Forces to be ready for the future battlefield conditions. In order to reach this strategic purpose, it is imperative that we should focus in establishing and expanding a high technology base for Turkish defense sector. Another strategic goal forthis new strategy is to increase the level of contribution of SMEs, R&D institutions and universities to the Turkish defense industry To this end, SSM and Turkish Armed Forces have initiated various local product development and modernization programs.

These efforts have been realized in order to expand the existing defense industry capabilities in Turkey. Yet, much more synergy, cooperation on both vertical and horizontal integration is needed between SMEs that are doing research and development, the R&D institutions, universities and the major contractors in Turkish defense industry to achieve the above mentioned strategic goals. Clustering among these SMEs and R&D institutions is an important vehicle to integrate them into the Turkish defense sector.