Turkiye's defence industry racing ahead with great success - minister

Türkiye has made significant progress in the field of defence industry in the outgoing year 2022 with a number of important and major projects.

In particular, new defence industry products have entered the inventory of the country's armed forces.

Türkiye's defence industry sector had an active and successful year in 2022, Ismail Demir, head of the Defence Industry Directorate under the Turkish Presidential Administration, told Anadolu Agency.

Demir noted that the Turkish Armed Forces received drone strikes, naval platforms, ground vehicles, missile systems, unmanned ground, and underwater vehicles, and avionics systems this year.

All defence products were designed and developed with domestic resources, he said.

Exports of the defence and aviation industry, according to Demir, exceeded $4 billion for the first time in the country's history.

The first unmanned military aircraft, the Kızılelma ("red apple") developed by the Turkish company Baykar, successfully made its maiden flight.

The Bayraktar Kızılelma will successfully cope with the most challenging missions thanks to its design. The Bayraktar Kızılelma, which is one example of the world's latest UAV technology, has a take-off weight of 6 tonnes and a payload of 1.5 tonnes.

One of Türkiye's most important technology and defence industry projects is the national military aircraft (MMU). Work on the MMU is nearing completion. The first domestic fifth-generation fighter jet is expected to leave the hangar on March 18, 2023.

Investment has also been made this year in a number of infrastructure facilities supporting the development of the defence and aerospace industries.

Within the framework of these initiatives, such facilities as the National Center for the Development of Combat Aircraft, Türkiye's largest production of composite materials and the Center for the Development of Space Systems became operational.

The supply of strike drones continued, which are effectively used by Türkiye's security forces both at home and abroad.

Türkiye strengthened its airborne capabilities with the delivery of Bayraktar Akıncı TİHA, Aksungur, Bayraktar TB2, Anka, and Kargu UAVs.

The UAVs are also being equipped with domestic ammunition. Within the framework of these initiatives, the UAV was equipped with Teber-82, KGK-SİHA-82, and LGK-82 guidance systems, as well as Tolun and TRG-230-İHA miniature bombs.

The first Boyga unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with projectile-launching functions have entered service with Türkiye's security forces.

The Kerkes project, which allows drones to accurately navigate the terrain even without a GPS signal, has been successfully completed and commissioned.

The first batch of TOGAN quadcopters for monitoring and intelligence gathering was handed over to Turkish security agencies.

Work continued to extend the service life of the F-16 fighter jets in service.

With the delivery of the last A400M military transport aircraft, the Air Force fleet grew to 10.

In addition, the first exports of the Atak helicopter and the Bayraktar Akıncı TİHA UAV were made.

The TCG Ufuk, the first intelligence-gathering vessel, was put on combat duty.

Türkiye began deliveries of the first batch of Kaplan MT medium tanks to the Indonesian Armed Forces.

The first deliveries of Pars 6x6 mine-protected vehicles also took place.

The Turkish HİSAR O+ surface-to-air missile system continued to be upgraded, including the firing of a radio-homing warhead missile.

The supply of HİSAR-O+ surface-to-air missile systems, K+ missiles, anti-tank missiles, guidance kits, and ammunition continued.

Commercial production of the KTJ3200 turbojet engines used in the SOM and Atmaca rockets commenced.

The first air traffic control systems entered service.

CATS cameras continued to be integrated into UAVs, which were designed and manufactured with domestic resources.