Hakan
RETIRED INTL MOD
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- Feb 9, 2014
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Week of 24 Feb - 2 March 2014
Turkish defense sector bustling with whirlwind week - DEFENSE UPDATE
The Turkish capital will host an important French defense and aerospace delegation. In what looks like a follow-up visit to French President François Hollande’s January state visit to Turkey, the French delegation consists of 90 representatives from 60 defense companies and five trade associations specializing in aerospace and defense (GIFAS), naval defense (GICAN) land armaments (GICAT), as well as the National Aerospace Research Center (ONERA) and the Aerospace Valley cluster.
The participating French companies represent a whole spectrum of the industry from large groups such as Airbus, Safran and Thales, running through the gamut of equipment manufacturers, right down to very specialized SMEs. The delegate will meet Turkish counterparts in Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Eskişehir and Sakarya to seek new deals, partners and suppliers.
Turkey’s defense procurement office and its French counterpart, the DGA, will also organize a Turkish-French Industry Day in Ankara on Feb. 27. SaSaD, an umbrella organization for the Turkish defense industry, and GIFAS will sign a memorandum of understanding for bilateral cooperation.
GIFAS’s 321 members operate in all sectors of the aerospace industry, including civil and military aircraft, helicopters, engines, missiles and weapons, satellites and launch systems, UAV, large aerospace, defense and security systems, equipment, subassemblies and associated software applications. With 44.4 billion euros in annual turnover and 51 billion euros in orders signed in 2012, GIFAS members have a workforce of 170,000 employees.
The French delegation’s visit coincides with a critical meeting of the Defense Industry Executive Committee, the ultimate panel that oversees major procurement decisions. The committee, chaired by Erdoğan, will convene today, while officials expect the prime minister’s go-ahead for the development phase of an ambitious program that aims to build Turkey’s first indigenous fighter jet. Industry sources say a favorable decision will earn TAI a new contract for the TFX, the indigenous fighter jet Turkey has been trying to design with mentoring from Sweden’s Saab.
Defense heavyweights meet with packed agenda
In addition to discussions on the future of Turkey’s indigenous fighter jet program, the Defense Industry Executive Committee will convene to debate a number of other pending programs totaling billions of dollars.
High on the agenda is Turkey’s controversial decision last September to select Chinese firm CPMIEC for the construction of the country’s first long-range air and anti-missile defense architecture.
Defense procurement officials said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would be updated on the program, with a presentation that will highlight the “merits and demerits” of the decision.
Turkey has been under increasing pressure from its Western allies, who argue that the Chinese system would not be interoperable with existing NATO and U.S. air defense assets stationed in Turkey, and that Turkish defense companies working with CPMIEC in this $3.44-billion contract could be sanctioned by the U.S. One source said Erdoğan would also be briefed on rival European and U.S. solutions, as well as an option to go for an entirely local solution proposed by Aselsan.
The Committee also will discuss Turkey’s efforts to coproduce with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of a local engine for the planned indigenous Turkish tank, the Altay. Turkey and Japan have been in maturing talks to develop the engine for what will become a new generation Turkish national main battle tank.
Other programs to be discussed at the meeting are a new logistical support boat and assault boats for the Navy and budgetary appropriations for research and development programs for the defense industry. Apart from Erdoğan, the Committee members are Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel and Chief Defense Procurement Officer Murad Bayar.
- Many French defense companies are coming to Turkey to discuss future cooperation.
- TAI is ecpected to get the go ahead for the TFX which will lead to them being awarded the contract.
- P.M Erdogan will be updated regarding the Chinese Air Defence System.
- Cooperation with Mitsubishi in regard to the Altay's motor will be discussed.
- Logistical and Assault boats will be discussed for the navy
- The budget for research and development in the defense sector will be discussed.
Turkish defense sector bustling with whirlwind week - DEFENSE UPDATE
The Turkish capital will host an important French defense and aerospace delegation. In what looks like a follow-up visit to French President François Hollande’s January state visit to Turkey, the French delegation consists of 90 representatives from 60 defense companies and five trade associations specializing in aerospace and defense (GIFAS), naval defense (GICAN) land armaments (GICAT), as well as the National Aerospace Research Center (ONERA) and the Aerospace Valley cluster.
The participating French companies represent a whole spectrum of the industry from large groups such as Airbus, Safran and Thales, running through the gamut of equipment manufacturers, right down to very specialized SMEs. The delegate will meet Turkish counterparts in Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Eskişehir and Sakarya to seek new deals, partners and suppliers.
Turkey’s defense procurement office and its French counterpart, the DGA, will also organize a Turkish-French Industry Day in Ankara on Feb. 27. SaSaD, an umbrella organization for the Turkish defense industry, and GIFAS will sign a memorandum of understanding for bilateral cooperation.
GIFAS’s 321 members operate in all sectors of the aerospace industry, including civil and military aircraft, helicopters, engines, missiles and weapons, satellites and launch systems, UAV, large aerospace, defense and security systems, equipment, subassemblies and associated software applications. With 44.4 billion euros in annual turnover and 51 billion euros in orders signed in 2012, GIFAS members have a workforce of 170,000 employees.
The French delegation’s visit coincides with a critical meeting of the Defense Industry Executive Committee, the ultimate panel that oversees major procurement decisions. The committee, chaired by Erdoğan, will convene today, while officials expect the prime minister’s go-ahead for the development phase of an ambitious program that aims to build Turkey’s first indigenous fighter jet. Industry sources say a favorable decision will earn TAI a new contract for the TFX, the indigenous fighter jet Turkey has been trying to design with mentoring from Sweden’s Saab.
Defense heavyweights meet with packed agenda
In addition to discussions on the future of Turkey’s indigenous fighter jet program, the Defense Industry Executive Committee will convene to debate a number of other pending programs totaling billions of dollars.
High on the agenda is Turkey’s controversial decision last September to select Chinese firm CPMIEC for the construction of the country’s first long-range air and anti-missile defense architecture.
Defense procurement officials said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would be updated on the program, with a presentation that will highlight the “merits and demerits” of the decision.
Turkey has been under increasing pressure from its Western allies, who argue that the Chinese system would not be interoperable with existing NATO and U.S. air defense assets stationed in Turkey, and that Turkish defense companies working with CPMIEC in this $3.44-billion contract could be sanctioned by the U.S. One source said Erdoğan would also be briefed on rival European and U.S. solutions, as well as an option to go for an entirely local solution proposed by Aselsan.
The Committee also will discuss Turkey’s efforts to coproduce with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of a local engine for the planned indigenous Turkish tank, the Altay. Turkey and Japan have been in maturing talks to develop the engine for what will become a new generation Turkish national main battle tank.
Other programs to be discussed at the meeting are a new logistical support boat and assault boats for the Navy and budgetary appropriations for research and development programs for the defense industry. Apart from Erdoğan, the Committee members are Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel and Chief Defense Procurement Officer Murad Bayar.
