With over US$ 25 Million of investments in the Sivas factory CEO of Aselsan Sivas, Murat ŞAHİN discusses the company’s four years of rapid growth, the leap that took them into the current manufacturing capacity of 40 different electro-optical products and future outlook built upon industry-university cooperation

With the GNAT 750-45 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System, which entered service in 1994, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) became the second NATO armed forces, after the USA, to use MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) class advanced UAVs. Unfortunately, since the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) did not want to use an unmanned aircraft system at that time and the Turkish Army Aviation Command initially perceived UAVs as an extension of artillery units rather than an ISR platform, the GNAT 750-45 system, which was one of the most advanced UAV solutions of its time, was used only for artillery reconnaissance missions in Çorlu until 1997.

In our exclusive interview with the President of Defense Industries Prof. İsmail DEMİR, we revisit various subjects, obtaining the latest information on the ambitious export goals set under the vision 2023 plan, including government to government sales which are strengthening Turkey’s position in export markets, to the SSB’s approach on trade financial models. We also discuss the latest on the ALTAY Main Battle Tank program as well as the T129 ATAK program, Turkey’s warship procurement plan for the balance of power within the scope of the Blue Homeland, and the latest status of the Unique and Multi-National Air Defense Projects. Has France’s attitude regarding the EUROSAM program changed? Will the end-product of Hisar+A Systems be commissioned by the end of the year? Is the first S-400 system operational? Are joint production and technology transfer a sine quo non for the purchase of the second system? Following Turkey’s removal from the F-35JSF program, what approach will Turkey take amid deployment of the S-400 systems.