Havelsan

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

the prototypes of the Akrep II (4x4) which is being marketed in full electric, diesel and hybrid configurations.

As previously stated, the Turkish Nurol company owns 51 percent of FNSS but then went onto develop the Ejder (6x6) amphibious APC and 70 units were supplied to Georgia, although all marketing of this family of vehicles has now ceased.

Nurol is now concentrating on 4x4 wheeled AFVs with the first of these being the Edjer Yalcin which has been built in significant numbers for the home and export markets.

MOVING INTO DEFENCE

BMC is a relative newcomer to the AFV domain having built large numbers of trucks for the home and export markets. This provided the basis for the design, development and production of wheeled AFV, especially those optimised for IS type operations.

Otokar was responsible for the design, development and testing of prototypes of the Altay MBT, but the production contract was awarded to BMC who had no experience in the manufacture of highly complex AFVs such as MBTs.

The Altay is a conventional design with driver at front, turret armed 120mm smooth bore gun in the middle and power pack at the rear. It has a computerised FCS with commander and gunner using stabilised day/night sights with an eye safe laser rangefinder. The first production contract for the Altay MBT is for 250 units, with additional orders expected plus more specialised versions.

The BMC Kirpi can hold 13 troops and has a top speed of 65mph (105km/h).

The FNSS remote-controlled anti-tank turret on the PARS 4x4 has been cleared to fire both the DegtyaryovKORNET and Roketsan OMTAS missiles.

BMC moved into the design, development and production of MRAP type vehicles, initially for the home market but then for export. The Kipri (4x4) MRAP was supplied first to Turkey but then to export customers include Libya, Qatar and Somalia.

Further development has resulted in a Kipri 6x6 model which offers more volume and payload.

Other BMC MRAP type vehicles include the Vuran (4x4) which can carry nine people and the more compact Amazon (4x4) which can carry seven people.

The Vuran is also used as the platform for the Sungur surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. On the roof is a pedestal with two pods each containing two fire and forget infra-red homing missiles. It has also been fitted with the Aselsan Alkar 120mm turntable mounted mortar fitted with a semi-automatic loading system.

A more recent Turkish AFV contractor is Katmerciler who developed the Hizar (4x4) with the first customer being Turkey. An undisclosed customer in Africa placed a contract worth $20.7 million in July 2019.

OVERHAUL AND UPGRADE

While the Turkish AFV industry is capable of the design, development and production of a wide range of AFV, tracked and wheeled, the TLFC has extensive facilities for the overhaul and upgrading of AFVs.

It has upgraded the M48 MBTs to the M48T standard and conducted a major upgrade for the M60 to the M60T standard based on an Israeli design and including new armour, power pack, 120mm smooth bore and new computerised FCS.

It also upgraded large numbers of M113 series APC and variants to the diesel powered M113 standard which has the local designation of the M113A2T2. In addition it has converted upgraded M113 to more specialised roles such as Engineering Squad Armoured Vehicle, Ambulance and Command Post vehicles.

The TLFC has also converted Leopard 1 MBT hulls to transport and launch the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Leguan bridge system. They are also responsible for the Firtina 155mm/52 calibre self-propelled howitzer based on the South Korean K9 Thunder. Turkey has also designed and built an ammunition resupply vehicle for the Firtina which is based on components from M48 tanks.

Otokar

The Cobra II MRAP is a new generation modular mine protected vehicle with high survivability and mobility.

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

Turkish Air Force (TuAFA) modernisation is being fuelled by the indigenisation of Turkey’s relatively new aerospace industry. Major home growth defence contractors such as Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Aselsan, Havelsan and Roketsan all now play a massive part in solving the needs of the local military, and are keen to export their products to fund the domestic market.

Increasingly though, they are finding it difficult to sell to allied countries because of International Treaty on Arms (ITAR) restrictions. For example, Pakistan signed up for 30 TAI T129 attack and reconnaissance helicopters (ATAK) in a $1.5 billion deal in May 2018, but the Honeywell/Rolls Royce LHTEC 800 engine that powers the helicopter has been sanctioned under ITAR legislation. A Tusas Engine Industries (TEI) TS1400 powerplant is being heralded as the replacement solution, but this will take time due to its ongoing development.

BANNED FROM F-35

One major setback for the TuAFA came when the United States (US) government banned Turkey from the Lockheed Martin’s F-35 programme. The TuAF had a requirement for 100 F-35As to replace its ageing F-4E Phantoms and F-16C/Ds. Six had been contracted, while another 24 were set to be acquired by fiscal year 2020. It led to the first TuAF F-35A flight on 10 May, 2018 with the aircraft subsequently handed over to the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, Arizona, for pilot and maintenance training. By April 2019 three more had arrived. Then in March 2019, Turkey ordered the Russian S-400 long range air defence system. That put relations with the United States in a spin. The transfer of F-35A support equipment was put on hold and Turkish personnel were eventually expelled from F-35 training and other activities.

The chief Pentagon spokesman, Charles Summers said in a statement released on