Türkiye abolishes defence embargo
PHOTO/VIDEO

REGION  31 January 2023 - 19:36

Türkiye has begun to change the balance in the region through domestic defence products.

The country started to produce domestic defence products after the embargo was imposed against it by some countries, according to Yenisafak.

The companies producing weapons and systems are mobilising their resources to overcome sanctions on components of the defence industry.

Here are 11 domestic weapons and systems that are nullifying the embargoes imposed on Türkiye by the US, Israel, Germany and Canada.

The latest development in this sphere has become a helicopter flight control system.

The Turkish-developed flight control system will be used for the first time on the Turkish Navy frigate TCG Istanbul in 2023.

Of course, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were one of the biggest contributions to the defence industry amid restrictions and embargoes applied to Türkiye.

The process that pushed Türkiye to produce its own UAVs began in 2010, when the US Congress did not allow the sale of Predator and Reaper UAVs.

Taking into account the developments, TAI conducted trial tests of the ANKA UAVs it was working on in 2010.

Baykar Defence company, which launched the Tactical UAV project in 2012 with TAI, has accelerated its work and began the first serial delivery of the Bayraktar TB2 in 2014.

Bayraktar Akıncı, Bayraktar TB2, Bayraktar DIHA, Bayraktar TB3, Bayraktar Mini UAV, TAI Gozcu, TUSAS Anka, TUSAS Anka-Aksungur, TUSAS Baykus, TUSAS Simsek and Vestel Karayel have been introduced into operation and are in the process of production following the steps taken in this field over the past 10 years.

Another embargo applied to Türkiye is vertical launch systems used on warships.

A national vertical launch system, which is used to vertically launch various types of missiles from warships and submarines, has been developed following an embargo imposed on Türkiye on deliveries of the Mark 41 vertical launch system from the US.

MDAS, whose development activity has been accelerated, is expected to be used for the first time from the frigate TCG Istanbul.

The first fire tests of the National Vertical Launch System (MIDLAS) manufactured by Roketsan have been successfully carried out. MIDLAS will be integrated into the ISTANBUL frigate for the first time in 2023 and will become part of the Navy.

After the ban on the sale of F-35 combat aircraft to the US, the Turkish defence industry has accelerated the National Combat Aircraft TF-X project. The aircraft is expected to leave the hangar and make its first flight in 2023.

As for the domestic military aircraft, F-16s will be modernised. When replacing 1,500 parts, the F-16 aircraft design life will be increased from 8,000 hours to 12,000 hours.

Another step towards overcoming the embargo was taken against the FGM-148 Javelin missiles. Türkiye began producing a domestic analogue of KARAOK.

The guided anti-tank missile developed by Roketsan features a range of 2,500 metres, as well as a portable design that can be used by a single soldier.

Some countries were worried as a result of Türkiye's success in the field of drones. Canada has imposed a ban on the sale of electro-optical cameras which are used in UAVs.

 ASELSAN has taken steps to end foreign dependency in this sphere. The Canadian embargo was also lifted from the CATS UAV camera, which was entirely domestically produced.

The Hisar project, being carried out by ASELSAN and ROKETSAN under the direction of the Defence Industry Administration, was developed by three separate systems.

Türkiye has become one of the few countries that can develop Hisar Projects unique integrated air defence system with its radar, combat control system, fire control system, communications system, data link, missile, homing head and all its components without outside help.

The BATU tank engine was developed for the ALTAY tank due to the embargo imposed by Germany. The 1500 horsepower engine, which has successfully passed the tests, is planned to be installed on the tank in 2024.

Foreign dependency on rocket engines, subject to another covert and secret embargo, will end with KTJ-3200 and TEI-TJ300.

While the TEI-TJ300 engine breaks the world record in this class, reaching 1342 Н of thrust with a diameter of 240 mm, the TEI-TJ300 with 3200 Newtons of thrust can develop 900 horsepower.

Domestically produced rocket engines are planned to be used soon in all domestic rockets, especially SOM and ATMACA.

Turkish defence company HAVELSAN also developed a domestic simulator that the US did not sell to Türkiye.

The sniper training simulator allows personnel who have just begun their sniper training to practice aiming, distance determination, binocular adjustment and shooting techniques with real equipment in a training environment, without the use of real ammunition.

The ban on the export of the Atak helicopter because the US did not give permission for the engine will be overcome by supplying the engine from Ukraine.

Caliber.Az