Seeking to free itself from its dependence on imports of military equipment and the embargoes it has suffered since 1974, Turkey has developed its own industry. The latter is increasingly turning to export, observes the country’s press.
The Turkish defense industry is flexing its muscles, especially internationally. In 2021, the country’s companies exported 3.2 billion worth of weapons abroad. A number “which could reach 4 billion this year”indicates Daily Sabah.
According to the pro-government daily, the Philippines thus became at the beginning of March the first foreign country to receive the Atak attack and reconnaissance helicopters, sold for 280 million dollars.
And in mid-March, it was the Turkish tanks that were sold for the first time abroad, more precisely in Indonesia, reports the daily Evening. These Kaplan MT light tanks are manufactured under an agreement between the defense industries of the two countries, which notably includes a technology transfer component.
The end of import dependency?
Another good news for the sector: the delivery on March 14 by South Korea of engines intended for the first Altay combat tank program, which has been struggling to progress since its launch in 2007, reports Daily Sabah in another article. The Turkish defense industry is still very dependent on this type of import.
The country is nevertheless seeking to free itself from this dependence and more generally from dependence on imports of equipment, as evidenced by the recent declarations of Ismail Demir, director of the Turkish defense industry, reported by the daily Nationality.
While conflicts are raging all around us, we do not have the luxury of being able to depend on foreign countries in this strategic sector, we
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