Significant progress was made in 2022 in a series of projects carried out within the Turkish defense industry, and new products and systems were made available to the security forces.
Under the coordination of the Defense Industry Agency (SSB), an intensive study was carried out in 2022 to meet the needs of the security forces with domestic and national solutions.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), SSB President İsmail Demir said that they spent the year 2022 as a year in which important developments were experienced in terms of the sector and the targets were achieved to a large extent. Demir made the following assessments:
"By putting our UCAVs, naval platforms, land vehicles, missiles, unmanned land and sea vehicles, electronic warfare systems, which we designed, developed and produced with domestic and national resources, into the service of our security forces, we added strength to their strength in the field. Our defense and aviation exports are worth 4 billion dollars. reached its highest level in history.
In 2023, under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we will continue to implement our national technology moves, one by one, in our goal of a fully independent defense industry. I sincerely believe that we will take our defense industry, which we see as one of the locomotive sectors of the Turkish Century, further with our user authorities, security forces, companies and all other stakeholders of our ecosystem."
Turkey's power in the air is riveted
Bayraktar Kızılelma, Turkey's first unmanned fighter aircraft, which was developed nationally and originally, successfully performed its first flight. Bayraktar Kızılelma will successfully perform the most challenging missions thanks to the low radar trace it will obtain from its design. Bayraktar Kızılelma, which is aimed to have a take-off weight of 6 tons, will use all nationally developed munitions and will be a great power multiplier with its planned 1500 kilograms payload carrying capacity.
National Combat Aircraft (MMU), one of Turkey's most important technology and defense industry projects, has been moved to the final assembly line. With this stage, the assembly and system integration works of the first prototype, which will be released from the hangar by starting the engine on March 18, 2023 and will be tested on the ground, have also started. The MMU, the 5th generation multi-role fighter aircraft, will offer superior capabilities for the requirements of both air-air and air-ground combat.
A number of infrastructure investments were also put into use this year to serve the defense and aerospace industry. In this context, the National Combat Aircraft Engineering Center, Turkey's largest Composite Production Building and Space Systems Engineering Center began operations.
Deliveries of armed unmanned aerial vehicles, which are effectively used by the security forces in their domestic and international operations, continued. With the deliveries of Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV, Aksungur, Bayraktar TB2, Anka and Kargu, Turkey's power in the air has been strengthened.
Integration activities of national munitions to Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV continued. With the studies carried out, Teber-82, KGK-SİHA-82, LGK-82 guidance kits, Tolun Miniature Bomb and TRG-230-UAV were added to Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV's ammunition firing capabilities.
UAV Boyga entered the inventory for the first time.
The Kerkes Project, which enables UAVs to operate in areas without GPS, was successfully completed and delivered.
The first deliveries of the UAV Togan, developed for reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence purposes, were made.
With structural improvements, the lifespan of the F-16 aircraft in the inventory continued to be extended.
With the delivery of the last A400M aircraft, the A400M fleet of 10 aircraft has been completed.
The attack helicopter and Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV were exported for the first time.
"Blue Homeland" is safer
TCG Ufuk, Turkey's first intelligence ship in the field of naval platforms, was put into service.
One of the new type submarines, Hızır Reis was shot in the pool and Selman Reis' first welding ceremony was held.
With projects such as Ulaq, Salvo, Sancar, Mir, Albatros, and Marlin, unmanned surface vessels (USV) were brought into the navy and swarm USV works were accelerated.
The safety of the beaches has been enhanced with new deliveries of control boats.
Unmanned ground vehicles of various types and levels (small and medium class) were delivered according to the needs of the security forces.
Pars started to work, Kaplan started exporting
With the delivery of Kaplan MT medium tanks to Indonesia, Turkey made its first tank export.
First deliveries of the Pars 6x6 Mine Protected Vehicle were made.
The first Armored Combat Vehicle-ZMA with a modernized and integrated unmanned gun turret was offered to the use of security forces.
The modernization of the Leopard 2A4 tanks in the inventory was continued.
Deliveries of the Next Generation Criminal Investigation Tool Kıraç, produced for the General Directorate of Security, continued.
Typhoon missile showcased
A new capability was added to air defense with the first Radio Frequency Seeker Headed Test Missile of the HİSAR O+ system.
Deliveries of HİSAR-O+ missiles, K+ missiles, anti-tank missiles, guidance kit and ammunition continued.
The portable air defense missile system Sungur was offered to the use of the Turkish Armed Forces in a version fired from the shoulder by a single soldier.
The first firing of Tayfun, Turkey's longest-range missile so far, was carried out. Tayfun will contribute to Turkey's security as a "short-range ballistic missile".
The first delivery of the Pedestal Mounted Javelin (KMC) Weapon System was made.
Şahin 40 millimeter Physical Destruction System, developed for the destruction of mini/micro UAVs, entered the inventory for the first time.
The KTJ3200 Turbojet Engine to be used in SOM and Atmaca missiles was delivered and mass production started.
New equipment for security forces
The Air Traffic Radar System was delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces for the first time.
After the embargoes, the integration of CATS cameras, which were developed and produced with domestic and national resources, to SİHAs continued.
The installation of the Gendarmerie Intelligent Control Point and the Gendarmerie Intelligent Patrol Application has begun.
Advanced technologies for platforms such as 7.62 millimeter machine gun, 5.56 infantry rifle, Mete gun, TG40-BA, Portable Ammunition System, Hand Grenade Box, Passive Exoskeleton, and advanced technologies that will provide advantages in the field were brought to the security forces.
For the first time, the PMT 12.7 millimeter machine gun, which was produced locally and nationally, went into mass production.
The first x-ray vehicle and container scanning system MİLTAR (National Scanning System) was installed at the facility of the Ministry of Commerce in İzmir Alsancak Port.
23 new facilities, whose construction was completed in Ankara Aerospace and Aviation Specialized Organized Industrial Zone, were put into service.
