TURKISH DEFENCE

OVERVIEW 2021
 THE DIGITAL
ISSUE OF THE
TURKISH DEFENCE
OVERVIEW 2021
IS SUPPORTED
BY

www.milmast.com
 Published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd.
Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd.
Publishing Office: Media Transasia Ltd.,
1603, 16/F, Island PL Tower, 510 Kings Road, Hong Kong
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Editor-in-Chief: Andrew Drwiega
General Manager: Jakhongir Djalmetov
International Marketing Manager: Roman Durksen
Digital Manager: David Siriphonphutakun
Milmast 3
Art Director: Rachata Sharma
Chairman: J.S. Uberoi
President: Egasith Chotpakditrakul
Havelsan 7
Chief Financial Officer: Gaurav Kumar
Roketsan 11
Advertising Sales Offices
France/Spain
Stephane de Remusat, REM International
Tel: (33) 5 3427 0130
E-Mail: sremusat@rem-intl.com
Germany
Sam Baird, Whitehill Media
Tel: (44-1883) 715 697 Mobile: (44-7770) 237 646
E-Mail: sam@whitehillmedia.com
UK
Zena Coupé
Tel: +44 1923 852537, zena@expomedia.biz
Nordic Countries/Italy/Switzerland
Emanuela Castagnetti-Gillberg
Tel: (46) 31 799 9028
E-Mail: emanuela.armada@gmail.com
Russia
Alla Butova, NOVO-Media Ltd,
Tel/Fax: (7 3832) 180 885 Mobile : (7 960) 783 6653
Email :alla@mediatransasia.com
USA/Canada
Margie Brown, Blessall Media, LLC.
Tel : (+1 540) 341 7581
Email: margiespub@rcn.com
INDIA
Sanjay Seth
Global Exposures
Tel: +91 11 466 96566 Mob: +91 9818 697279
Email: sseth.globex@gmail.com
TURKEY
Zeynep Özlem Baş
Mob: +90 532 375 0046
Email: media@oz-ist.com
All Other Countries
Jakhongir Djalmetov
Media Transasia Limited
Tel: +66 2204 2370, Mobile: +66 81 6455654
Email: joha@mediatransasia.com
Roman Durksen
Media Transasia Limited
Tel: +66 2204 2370, Mobile +66 83 6037989
E-Mail: roman@mediatransasia.com

Circulation Audit Board

Controlled circulation: 26,121 (average per issue) certified by CAB

for the period 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019.
Printed by Media Transasia Ltd., 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II,
Soi Sukhumvit 19, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Tel: 66 (0)-2204 2370, Fax: 66 (0)-2204 2390 -1
Annual subscription rates:
Europe: CHF 222 (including postage)
Rest of the World: USD 222 (including postage)
Subscription Information: Readers should contact the following address:
Subscription Department, Media Transasia Ltd., 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean
Tower II, Soi Sukhumvit 19, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Tel +66 2204 2370 Fax: +66 2204 2387
Email: accounts@mediatransasia.com
 Turkey land

FNSS
The first international customer for
the FNSS Medium Tank is Indonesia
with the turret being supplied by
John Cockerill Defense.

TURKISH ARMOUR
AIMS FOR EXPORTS
In the first of a two part special on the Turkish defence industry, Armada
International reviews indigenous armoured vehicle designs for both national use
and for the export market.

By Christopher F Foss

F
or many years the Turkish Land In addition to the prime contractors of FNSS Savunma Sistemleri is a joint
Forces Command (TLFC) de- Turkish AFVs, there are also a number of venture between the now BAE Systems of
ployed large numbers of foreign key Turkish sub-contractors with Aselsan the USA (49 percent) and the local company
designed and built armoured being responsible for fire control systems of Nurol (51 percent). This company
fighting vehicles (AFV) includ- (FCS) and optronics and MKEK for guns was originally established to undertake
ing US M48 and M60 main battle tanks and ammunition. production of the Turkish Infantry Fighting
(MBTs) and US M113 series of armoured The two largest AFV contractors in Vehicle (TIFV) based on the Armoured
personnel carriers (APC) and variants. Turkey are FNSS Savunma Sistemleri Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) developed
More recently large numbers of surplus and Otokar, both of whom have built in the USA by the now BAE Systems (at
Porsche Leopard 1 and Krauss-Maffei large numbers of AFVs for the home and that time FMC) which was also adopted
Leopard 2 MBTs have been supplied by increasingly demanding export markets. by Belgium and the Netherlands. Turkey
Germany. In addition to designing AFVs, both of took delivery of 2,249 TIFV in four basic
Today, Turkey is self-sufficient in all these contractors are involved in the design, configurations.
classes of AFVs ranging from MBTs through development and production of turrets Further development for the export
to tracked and wheeled APCs as well as and remote weapon stations (RWS) for market resulted in the Armoured Combat
wheeled vehicles suitable for the internal their own platforms as well as other export Vehicle 15 (ACV-15) with the 15 relating to the
security vehicle (ISV) role. customers. typical gross vehicle weight (GVW) in tonnes.

04 Turkish Defence Overview 2021

 Turkey land

Otokar
units, five of which were for the Turkish
Gendarmerie with the remaining 95 for
the Army, of which 50 are 8x8 and 45 are in
6x6 configuration.
The latest FNSS export development
is the Kaplan Medium Tank (MT) which is
the result of co-operation between FNSS
and PT Pindad of Indonesia who is the
launch customer for 18 vehicles. The MT
is fitted with the Belgian John Cockerill
Defense C3105 turret armed with a 105mm
rifled gun fed by an automatic loader with
a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun.
The company has also built a batch
of 12 Armoured Amphibious Combat
Earthmover (AACE) for the TLFC
and recently won a contract from the
Philippines for an undisclosed number
of units, so the production line will start
Otokar Arma (8x8) fitted with an Otokar Mizrak again with first deliveries in 2023.
remote controlled turret armed with a 30mm The company has also supplied the
dual feed cannon and 7.62mm co-axial MG. TLFC with the Armoured Amphibious
Assault Bridge (AAAB) which is being
offered on the export market as the Otter
Export sales of the ACV-15 have so far A total of 27 MAV are being supplied Rapidly Deployable Amphibious Wet Gap
been made to Malaysia and the United Arab under a contract awarded in 2017 of which Crossing System.
Emirates (UAE). 23 are in APC configuration, as well as two This can be used as a Military Load
A stretched version of the ACV-15, command post and two armoured recovery Class 21 (one unit), MLC 85 (two units) or
called the ACV-19, has more volume and versions. MLC 120 (three units) in the ferry mode
payload enabling it to undertake a wider Under sub-contract to Aselsan, FNSS is or 12 can be connected together to form a
range of battlefield missions. This has been providing the Air Defence System Platform 150m long bridge.
sold to Malaysia (eight fitted with Thales for their HISAR surface-to-air missile Otokar started designing light AFVs
120mm mortar), Saudi Arabia and the UAE. (SAM) system and the Korkut twin 35mm such as the Akrep (Scorpion) 4x4 light
FNSS has also been engaged in the self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) reconnaissance vehicle and a 4x4 light
upgrading of the M113 series APC to the which have now entered production for APC suitable for the IS role based on a
M113A4 standard. The largest customer Turkey. These leverage from their well- long wheel base Land Rover chassis.
has been Saudi Arabia with the work being established ACV-15 and ACV-19 platforms. By early 2021 the company had built
carried out in country. some 33,000 vehicles, including trucks and
The company has also developed two FROM TRACKS TO WHEELS AFVs, selling to 36 countries all over the
new tracked AFVs as a private venture, the While originally concentrating on tracked world. The smaller AFVs were followed
Kaplan 30 New Generation (NG) AFV and AFVs, FNSS has now moved into the by the bestselling Cobra (4x4) based on
Kaplan 20 NG which can both be optimised wheeled AFV market with the Pars family of automotive components of the US AM
to meet the end user’s specific operational 8x8 and 6x6 vehicles. General Expanded Capacity Vehicle (ECV).
requirements. The first customer was Malaysia which The baseline Cobra APC has a crew of
To meet the TLFC need for a highly ordered a total of 257 Pars 8x8 in many two and can carry up to seven dismounts
mobile tank destroyer, FNSS developed configurations with first vehicles coming with a variety of roof mounted weapons.
the Kaplan 10 and Pars (4x4) platforms from Turkey followed by local production There are also more specialised versions,
which are both amphibious and fitted with in Malaysia. Havelsan completed the including a reconnaissance and an
a remote controlled turret (RCT) armed installation of its AV8 Pars armoured amphibious variant.
with the Russian Kornet-E or Roketsan ground vehicle simulator at the KEM Syed This was followed by a brand new
Mizrak-U anti-tank guided weapons Sirajuddin military facility in 2020. The design called Cobra II (4x4) which has
(ATGW). AV8 simulator consists of two trainers, more volume and payload and can
The company is also producing the one for advanced driving and the second undertake a wider range of battlefield
Marine Assault Vehicle (MAV) which will for operators of the weapon, sensor and missions. In 2021 the company launched
be deployed by the new Turkish Landing turret. Both simulator cabins can be used the Cobra Mine Resistant Ambush
Helicopter Dock (LHD). It is amphibious, simultaneously. Protected (MRAP) version on the export
propelled in the water by two water jets The second customer was the Royal market which is claimed to combine a high
positioned either side at the rear. It is fitted Army of Oman who received 172 Pars III of level of survivability and mobility in a
with a RWS armed with a 12.7mm machine which 145 were in the 8x8 configuration and modular package. By March 2021, Otokar
gun (MG) and a 40mm automatic grenade 27 in the 6x6 configuration. had built over 4,000 Cobra (4x4) in all
launcher (AGL). In 2019 Turkey placed a contract for 100 versions.

06 Turkish Defence Overview 2021

UAV LISTING

Turkish Defence Overview 2021 07

 turkey land

FNSS
Pars III (8x8) for the Royal Army of Oman armed with a Swiss RUAG Cobra
120mm muzzle loaded mortar shown here in firing position.

For the export market Otokar investing in new technology and has built wheeled AFVs with the first of these being
developed the Arma in both 8x8 and 6x6 the prototypes of the Akrep II (4x4) which the Edjer Yalcin which has been built in
configurations which share 90 percent is being marketed in full electric, diesel and significant numbers for the home and
common components and can be fitted hybrid configurations. export markets.
with a wide range of weapons. The 8x8 As previously stated, the Turkish
can be fitted with a wide range of weapons Nurol company owns 51 percent of FNSS MOVING INTO DEFENCE
including a two person turret armed with a but then went onto develop the Ejder BMC is a relative newcomer to the AFV
105mm gun. The first customer for the Arma (6x6) amphibious APC and 70 units domain having built large numbers of
6x6 was Bahrain in the APC configuration were supplied to Georgia, although all trucks for the home and export markets.
with a second customer ordering the 8x8 marketing of this family of vehicles has This provided the basis for the design,
model. now ceased. development and production of wheeled
Further development of the Arma Nurol is now concentrating on 4x4 AFV, especially those optimised for IS type
8x8 resulted in the larger Rabdan for the operations.

Otokar
UAE with the first batch consisting of 100
units fitted with the complete turret of the
Russian BMP-3 IFV armed with a 100mm
gun (which can also fire a guided projectile),
30mm co-axial cannon and 7.62mm co-axial
machine gun.
Production of the Rabdan is now
underway in the UAE as Otokar has a joint
venture company with Edge of the Abu
Dhabi Government and Al Jassor.
As a private venture, Otokar has
designed and built the Tulpar IFV (which
is called the Safa by the Gulf Cooperation
Council) and the more compact Tulpar-S
tracked vehicles with the latter being
amphibious.
Otokar has not neglected MRAP type
vehicles and has developed Kaya I and The Altay MBT was designed by Otokar but production is being undertaken
by BMC. Altay has a computerised fire control system with commander and
Kay II as well as the Kale, with all of these
gunner provided with roof mounted stabilised sights.
being of the 4x4 type. The company is also

08 Turkish Defence Overview 2021

 turkey land

Aselsan

BMC
BMC Vuran (4x4) MRAP fitted with Aselsan
Alkar 120mm weapon mortar system during
initial firing trials.

The BMC Kirpi can hold 13 troops and has a top speed of 65mph (105km/h).
Otokar was responsible for the design,
development and testing of prototypes
of the Altay MBT, but the production Other BMC MRAP type vehicles include It has upgraded the M48 MBTs to the
contract was awarded to BMC who had no the Vuran (4x4) which can carry nine people M48T standard and conducted a major
experience in the manufacture of highly and the more compact Amazon (4x4) which upgrade for the M60 to the M60T standard
complex AFVs such as MBTs. can carry seven people. based on an Israeli design and including
The Altay is a conventional design The Vuran is also used as the platform new armour, power pack, 120mm smooth
with driver at front, turret armed 120mm for the Sungur surface-to-air missile (SAM) bore and new computerised FCS.
smooth bore gun in the middle and power system. On the roof is a pedestal with two It also upgraded large numbers of
pack at the rear. It has a computerised pods each containing two fire and forget M113 series APC and variants to the diesel
FCS with commander and gunner using infra-red homing missiles. It has also powered M113 standard which has the local
stabilised day/night sights with an eye safe been fitted with the Aselsan Alkar 120mm designation of the M113A2T2. In addition
laser rangefinder. The first production turntable mounted mortar fitted with a it has converted upgraded M113 to more
contract for the Altay MBT is for 250 units, semi-automatic loading system. specialised roles such as Engineering
with additional orders expected plus more A more recent Turkish AFV contractor Squad Armoured Vehicle, Ambulance and
specialised versions. is Katmerciler who developed the Hizar Command Post vehicles.
BMC moved into the design, (4x4) with the first customer being Turkey. The TLFC has also converted Leopard
development and production of MRAP An undisclosed customer in Africa placed a 1 MBT hulls to transport and launch the
type vehicles, initially for the home market contract worth $20.7 million in July 2019. German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Leguan
but then for export. The Kipri (4x4) MRAP bridge system. They are also responsible for
was supplied first to Turkey but then to OVERHAUL AND UPGRADE the Firtina 155mm/52 calibre self-propelled
export customers include Libya, Qatar and While the Turkish AFV industry is capable howitzer based on the South Korean K9
Somalia. of the design, development and production Thunder. Turkey has also designed and
Further development has resulted in a of a wide range of AFV, tracked and wheeled, built an ammunition resupply vehicle for
Kipri 6x6 model which offers more volume the TLFC has extensive facilities for the the Firtina which is based on components
and payload. overhaul and upgrading of AFVs. from M48 tanks. Otokar
FNSS

The FNSS remote-controlled anti-tank turret on the PARS 4x4 has been The Cobra II MRAP is a new generation modular mine
cleared to fire both the Degtyaryov KORNET and Roketsan OMTAS missiles. protected vehicle with high survivability and mobility.

Turkish Defence Overview 2021 09

 turkey air

Command)
Alan
(Allied Joint Force Warnes
Hurjet is a new advanced jet trainer/light combat aircraft that was
launched at Farnborough. It will make its first flight in 2022, in time to
celebrate the Republic of Turkey’s 100th anniversary in 2023.

OTTOMAN AEROSPACE
EMERGES
Turkey’s aerospace industry is turning away from traditional US ITAR restricted
platforms to indigenously shape the future of the Turkish Air Force.

Alan Warnes

T
urkish Air Force (TuAFA) deal in May 2018, but the Honeywell/Rolls first TuAF F-35A flight on 10 May, 2018 with
modernisation is being fuelled Royce LHTEC 800 engine that powers the the aircraft subsequently handed over to
by the indigenisation of Tur- helicopter has been sanctioned under ITAR the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, Ari-
key’s relatively new aerospace legislation. A Tusas Engine Industries (TEI) zona, for pilot and maintenance training.
industry. Major home growth TS1400 powerplant is being heralded as By April 2019 three more had arrived. Then
defence contractors such as Turkish Aero- the replacement solution, but this will take in March 2019, Turkey ordered the Russian
space Industries (TAI), Aselsan, Havelsan time due to its ongoing development. S-400 long range air defence system. That
and Roketsan all now play a massive part in put relations with the United States in a
solving the needs of the local military, and BANNED FROM F-35 spin. The transfer of F-35A support equip-
are keen to export their products to fund One major setback for the TuAFA came ment was put on hold and Turkish person-
the domestic market. when the United States (US) government nel were eventually expelled from F-35
Increasingly though, they are finding it banned Turkey from the Lockheed Martin’s training and other activities.
difficult to sell to allied countries because F-35 programme. The TuAF had a require- The chief Pentagon spokesman, Charles
of International Treaty on Arms (ITAR) ment for 100 F-35As to replace its ageing Summers said in a statement released on
restrictions. For example, Pakistan signed F-4E Phantoms and F-16C/Ds. Six had been Monday 1 April, 2019, “the United States
up for 30 TAI T129 attack and reconnais- contracted, while another 24 were set to has suspended deliveries and activities as-
sance helicopters (ATAK) in a $1.5 billion be acquired by fiscal year 2020. It led to the sociated with the stand-up of Turkey's F-35

10 Turkish Defence Overview 2021

UAV LISTING

Turkish Defence Overview 2021 11

 turkey air

operational capability. Should Turkey

Alan Warnes
procure the S-400, their continued par-
ticipation in the F-35 program is at risk.”
On 17 July 2019 the White House issued
a statement that stated: “Unfortunately,
Turkey’s decision to purchase Russian
S-400 air defence systems renders its
continued involvement with the F-35
impossible. The F-35 cannot co-exist with
a Russian intelligence collection plat-
form that will be used to learn about its
advanced capabilities. The United States
still greatly values its strategic relation-
ship with Turkey and we will continue to
cooperate with Turkey extensively, mind-
ful of constraints due to the presence of
the S-400 system in Turkey.”
Since then all the workshare that had
been awarded to Turkish companies has
stopped, with the majority of it being
transferred back to the US under ex-
President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’
policy.

TURKISH FIGHTER The Aksungur seen at the Turkish Aerospace stand in IDEF 2019, was fitted with six hard points,
The F-35 cancellation meant that the Tu- and with a double rack carrying four MAM-L (laser smart micro munition).
AFA had to extend the lifetime in service
of the older F-16C/Ds and F-4E Phantoms
until around 2030. At that time Turkey’s
indigenous new generation fighter, tests. He added that there will be seven the design of the fighter cannot progress.
known as Turkish Fighter-X (TF-X), or prototypes.
MMU as as it is known locally, should start The biggest issue is the engine. Design- SELF RELIANCE
being delivered to the TuAF. A full scale ing and developing an indigenous power- During IDEF 2019, Turkey’s President
mock-up of the TF-X was unveiled in June plant for a fighter isn’t easy as both Russia Erdogan spoke of his defence industry
2019 at the Paris Airshow, but a month and China can vouch. There were aspira- stepping up its game, allowing the coun-
earlier at Turkey’s own defence exhibition, tions to co-develop such a requirement with try’s military to go 100 percent indigenous,
IDEF 2019 in Istanbul, the author spoke an international partner, but so far nothing because of the threats of sanctions on
to Fahrettin Öztürk, Turkish Aerospace’s has materialised. Originally three foreign ITAR products. TAI led by CEO Temel Ko-
vice president, Research and Develop- companies bid for the work in partner- til is playing a big part in his dream, with
ment who stated that he had been “tasked ship with Eskisehir-based Turkish Engine the development of several new platforms.
to handle the research and development Industries (TEI), which will be responsible Many are helicopter projects, including
processes and get everything to serial for producing the engine. the T129 Tactical Reconnaissance and
production quicker.” Rolls Royce and Kale Group of Turkey Attack (ATAK), the T625 Gokbey, a six ton
Undoubtedly TF-X will be take up announced the creation of a joint venture unmanned electric powered T629 and
much of his time. “We are in a design company on 8 May, 2017 for a new engine, the Multi Role Heavy Combat Helicopter
partnership with BAE Systems on the which never materialised into development (MHCH) currently referred to as ATAK-
project…This involves around 100 BAE due to transfer of technology concerns. 2. There is also the Hurjet jet trainer,
staff on secondment to TAI in Ankara,“ General Electric offered technology Hurkus-B turboprop trainer, Hurkus-C
stated Öztürk at the time. “We are in Phase transfer (ToT) for the F414-GE-400 which close air support aircraft, new generation
1 – the conceptual design and selection of powers the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, while TF fighter, a stand-off jammer (SOJ) and
major systems, then we will put [a model] Eurojet offered an improved version of its several UAVs such as the Anka-Aksungar
through wind tunnel tests. In Phase 2 we EJ-200 engine, the Typhoon’s powerplant and Anka-S that draw strength from all
will start the detailed design, manufactur- as well as ToT. However, on 14 February aspects of the defence industry. You name
ing and integrating of all the systems. We this year, Turkish state-run engine maker it and Turkey’s SSB (Undersecretariat for
are expecting TF-X will have its first flight TRMotor signed a deal with TAI to develop Defence Industries) is looking to have a
in 2026,” he predicted. two critical components of the engine - the Turkish solution within the foreseeable
In August 2020 TAI’s CEO, Temel Kotil auxiliary power unit and an air turbine future.
said that the TF-X would now be rolled out start system, that will power the jet. As Os- On 25 February, TAI delivered the first
on 18 March, 2023 (to coincide with Turkey man Dur, general manager of TRMotor said, T129 ATAK to the Polis, in the Phase-2
celebrating 100 years of its existence). This “The TF-X powerplant is still at its concept configuration, with enhanced Aselsan
would be followed by two years of ground design phase.” Until an engine is selected, electronic warfare and countermeasures

12 Turkish Defence Overview 2021

 turkey air

T625 Gökbeys to replace the ageing Bell

UH-1H Hueys, AB212ASWs and Sikorsky
S-70B Seahawks, there is an important
need to develop the indigenous engine
that will power it. An important milestone
came on 5 December, 2020 when TAI took
delivery of the first TEI TS1400 to integrate
into a T625. The civilian prototype relies
on a LHTEC-800, the same powerplant the
ATAK uses, and could easily be sanctioned
by the US.
According to a TAI source, there will be
two military T625 prototypes, one in an at-
tack configuration and another in a Search
and Rescue (SAR) role fitted with a hoist.
The naval T625 version will have a new ra-
dar and folding rotors allowing it to operate
from ships. While the Army is looking for
a requirement of up to 160 Gökbeys to fulfil
both the SAR, utility (with 16 seats) and at-
tack versions, other services including the
Turkey is intending to replace its fleet of F-4E-2020 Phantoms and F-16C/Ds with the TF-X,
TuAFA, Jandarma and Gendarmerie will
which was unveiled at Paris Air Show in 2019.
have their own requirements. Many of TAI’s
senior management see the Gökbey as
a departure from working exclusively with
capabilities. Two more of six ordered domestically develop subsystems and criti- the military, because the six-ton helicopter
in March 2017 were set to be delivered in cal components. The TEI TS1400 power- will be available to the civilian market too.
March. Ismail Demir, the SSB chairperson plant currently being developed to power At Farnborough 2018, TAI launched the
said: “We are proud to see the delivery helicopters, is one of the most important Hurjet jet trainer in mock-up form, which
of this helicopter which will further steps in this process. was presented again at IDEF 2019. That’s
strengthen the police forces.” The first six-ton T625 Gökbey, TC-HLP where Mr Öztürk told the author, “We have
By June last year, 57 of the 59 T129s flew on 6 September, 2018 but this was started manufacturing the parts and the
on order by the Turkish Land Forces had essentially an ‘iron bird’ - a ground test first flight will be in late-2022.” When it
been delivered, while the Gendarmerie vehicle modified with new avionics and en- comes to the prototypes, Mr Öztürk said,
has received at least six of 18 on order. gine. Its flight marked the fifth anniversary “There could be four or five in different con-
To date 83 T129s have been ordered, with of the contract being signed to develop the figurations, but not all will fly. There will
another three are on option, possibly for aircraft. Civilian certification should be be static rig tests, dynamic ground tests and
the Gendarmerie. completed this year when serial production one could be used for wind tunnels, check-
Mr Demir also pointed out the plan is also expected to commence. ing systems and performance before flight.
was not to just build platforms, but also With a requirement of up to 600 military This is the minimum, there could be more!”
The Hurjet is expected to make its first
public appearance on 18 March, 2023 to
celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ataturk’s
TAI

secular Islamic state being founded. No

decision has been made on the Hurjet’s
powerplant although both the Eurojet
EJ200 and General Electric F404 are
candidates. The jet trainer will eventually
replace the 40 TuAF T-38 Talons that TAI
upgraded between 2011-16, and there are big
aspirations to export the aircraft and even
develop a light attack version.
The 10 ton Multirole Heavy Combat He-
licopter (MHCH), also unofficially known
as ATAK-2, was seen in mock-up form at
IDEF 19. TAI sees the MHCH as the ideal
alternative to the Boeing AH-64 Apache.
Öztürk commented: “We want the MHCH
The huge Aksungur UAS made its public debut at IDEF 19. to be more manoeuvrable than the Apache,
It is being developed as a multi role platform – for surveillance, more functional and armed with more
maritime patrol and attack.
Turkish-designed weapons.”

Turkish Defence Overview 2021 13

 Turkey air

Alan Warnes
Syria so well and helped Azerbaijan claim
victory in the Nagorno Karabkh conflict
against Armenia in October/November
2020. It’s unclear how many have been
delivered to both the Army and Navy, but
armed with MAM-Ls and MAM-Cs they
have done a formidable job.
Bayraktar also launched the heavy-
weight Akinci combat UAV in May 2017,
leading to the first flight on 6 December,
2019 followed by a second prototype on
13 August, 2020. The 12.5m drone cur-
rently powered by two Ivchenko-Progress
Motor Sich AI-450T turboprop engines
can fly up to 40,000 feet (12,100m), has an
impressive 195 knot (361km/h) cruising
speed, an endurance of 24 hours and a
range of 3,100 miles (5,000kms). With a
20m wing span, there is a provision for
eight hard points that can accommodate a
Turkish Aerospace believes the ten ton Multirole Heavy Combat Helicopter (MHCH) also multitude of Turkish-developed weapons.
referred to as ATAK-2 will be an ideal alternative to the Boeing Apache. The first serial production example for
the TuAFA was being built in early 2021.
It’s unclear how
C
TEI has now started work on a more among them the Aselsan Small Diameter many the TuAF has ordered.
powerful TS3000 for heavy class helicop- Bomb, Roketsan Teber 81 (Mk 81 bomb fitted It is evident that the Turkish military M

ters, and are also working on jet engines. with a Tubitak SAGE [Defence Industry is looking to replace most of its mainly US Y

TEI faces the biggest task among the local Research and Development Institute] HGK- aircraft with ‘Made In Turkey’ products. CM

aerospace companies, by developing en- 3 laser guidance kit), Teber 82 (Mk 82 bomb Undoubtedly there are many challenges
gines for most of the new platforms. fitted with HGK-5 laser guidance kit), and but the Turkish aerospace industry, since MY

This year should see the Academy at MAM-L (smart micro munition – laser) being launched as part of the US F-16 CY

Cigli receive the first of 52 MFI-17 Super plus Tübitak SAGE HGK 82. A sonobuoy purchase off-set deal in the mid-80s, is a CMY

Mushshaks being built by Pakistan Aero- pod was also seen fitted under the wing to shining example of what can be done with
K
nautical Complex (PAC) Kamra. In a deal optimise maritime surveillance operations. a huge amount of government invest-
signed on 10 May, 2017, the trainers are being Another popular UAV is the Bayraktar ment. Undoubtedly the likes of UAE and
fitted with new Garmin 950 avionics. They TB2 armed drone, which has been Saudi Arabia, which also have similar
will replace the air force’s fleet of SF260s supporting Turkey’s efforts in Libya and aspirations will be looking on.
and Cessna T-41s based at Izmir-Kaklic and
Istanbul-Yesilkoy respectively for student

TAI
pilot/undergraduate training. The first
two prototypes left the PAC paint shop in
December 2020.

IMPRESSIVE UAVS
Also making its debut at IDEF 19 was the
Aksungur Medium Altitude Long Endur-
ance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV), with a staggering 24 metre wingspan
and a maximum take-off weight of 7,300lbs
(3,310kg). The twin boomed UAS is powered
by two locally developed TEI PD1700 turbo
diesel engines, which flew for the first time
on the smaller Anka on 27 December, 2018.
The Aksungur’s first flight on 20 March,
2019 lasted four hours and 20 minutes, and
in September 2020 flew for the first time
with a payload of 12 MAM-Ls (smart micro
munition – laser) for 28 hours. There are The T625 Gökbey (Sky Lord) is the first platform Turkish Aerospace could sell
six hard points under its massive wings to into the civilian market as well as the military. It views the Middle East as a
region where the helicopter could do well.
accommodate a diverse range of weapons,

14 Turkish Defence Overview 2021

 UAV LISTING

Asia Pacific’s Largest Circulated

Defence Magazine

Reach Your Target Through Asian Military Review!

The Only Audited Defence Magazine in the Asia-Pacific Region
with a Circulation of 21,434 copies (ABC Audit)

For advertising opportunities contact:

Joha Djalmetov: joha@mediatransasia.com (+66) 2 204 2370 ext 125
Roman Durksen: roman@mediatransasia.com (+66) 2 204 2370 ext 123 15
 Protect. AttAck. SuPPort.
IntellIgence & AnAlySIS on
electronIc WArfAre At your fIngertIPS!
reAd more todAy!

www.armadainternational.com/electronic-warfare