IDEF 2015: Turkey aims for defence industrial independence by 2023

[Zarvan]

Turkey produced 60% of its defence materiel in 2014, according to IHS analysis. (IHS)
Turkey is aiming to achieve independence from imported equipment by 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the IDEF defence exhibition in Istanbul.

"Our plan is to completely eliminate external dependency on defence equipment supply with ongoing plans and investments until 2023," the Anatolia news agency reported on 5 May.

"Our next target in [the] defence industry will be unique design," he added.

According to IHS data, Turkey assembled 60% of equipment that was delivered to its armed forces in 2014, with the United States (15%) and Spain (9%), the two other largest sources of equipment. Imports of foreign-made equipment were valued at USD1.5 billion in 2014, according to the IHS Balance of Trade 2015 report.

Turkey is also keen to promote exports of its defence equipment, with the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) claiming to have exported USD1.6 billion worth of goods in 2014. The country's main export items ranged from armoured vehicles, to rockets and electronic systems, with the country looking to boost the value of defence exports to USD25 billion by 2023.

The country is also developing a number of indigenous land and missile systems, many of which are in collaboration with international manufacturers as part of a set of wider offset agreements related to the country's defence equipment procurements. Major indigenous defence design programmes include the Altay main battle tank and a fifth-generation fighter programme, known as the Turkish Fighter Experimental (TFX).

The country is also in the process of acquiring Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, for which it will serve as a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hub and has already undertaken component manufacture and assembly. Additionally, Turkish industry will also be assembling localised and international variants of the Sikorsky S-70 BlackHawk helicopter as part of a USD3.5 billion deal announced in 2014.

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IDEF 2015: Turkey aims for defence industrial independence by 2023 - IHS Jane's 360

 

[usernameless]

I think i'm not lying when i say that Turkey's economical and militaric achievements so far are already uneasing some 'friendly' countries and some neighboring hostile countries. Had read before that Turkey is 60% self sufficient, 30% is already underway or is planned under ToT and co-operations (which means know how will sooner or later be absorbed for future self sufficiency) and the remainder 10% is made up of off the shelf buying for now. If only more export orders would pour in, it'd be great. Everything at a time, i guess.

 

[AUz]

2023 is a hard target, since Turkey will be getting engines and stuff from European markets most likely. But nevertheless, all major Muslim countries must go for 100% independence in high-tech military hardware. I know its hard, but we have the entire next century to us!!

 

[-SINAN-]

2023 is a hard target, since Turkey will be getting engines and stuff from European markets most likely. But nevertheless, all major Muslim countries must go for 100% independence in high-tech military hardware. I know its hard, but we have the entire next century to us!!

Don't forget we are a secular country.....as for Islamic countries.....well good luck to them.. i think they will continue to fight against each other by using infidel's weapons for at least another century.

 

[AUz]

Don't forget we are a secular country.....as for Islamic countries.....well good luck to them.. i think they will continue to fight against each other by using infidel's weapons for at least another century.

Did I say Islamic countries? I said Muslim countries...there's a difference.

 

[xenon54 out]

i think they will continue to fight against each other by using infidel's weapons for at least another century.

If there is a region without an outlook for the next century then its ME.