The exports of the Turkish Defense and Aviation Industry sector in 2021 amounted to 3.2 billion dollars worth of exports in the sector. 32 new weapons that left their mark on the past year, were used in the air, on land and at sea, adding strength to Mehmetçik’s strength. While the domestic rate of the sector reached 80 percent, the annual export threshold of 3 billion dollars was exceeded for the first time. The exports of the defense and aerospace sector amounting to 433 million dollars in December became the total number of exports in 2021.
The Turkish defense and aerospace industry sector, which broke the record in 2019, managed to renew its record after 2021, after the break it took in 2020 due to pandemic conditions;
The sector, which realized exports of 2 billion 279 million US dollars in 2019, broke the record of all years with an export figure of 3.2 billion US dollars in 2021.
In the exports of the Turkish defense and aerospace industry sector in 2021; USA, AZERBAIJAN, QATAR, UAE, MOROCCO and GERMANY countries are at the forefront.
On a product basis, Bayraktar TB2 and ANKA type Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; Intelligent munitions such as TRG300, TRG230, MAM-L and MAM-C; The exports of barreled weapons and gun turrets such as SARP, various land vehicles and naval platforms came to the fore.
Turkey’s Defense Industry Exports;
While Turkey’s domestic defense industry succeeds in bringing sophisticated solutions to the TAF’s diverse mission needs, it is also attracting increasing attention from international customers. According to the data of the last ten years, the exports of the defense industry sector increased by more than 200 percent. Defense and aerospace exports, which currently have a share of 3.5 percent in general exports, are expected to be the sector that will increase its share most rapidly in the following years.
DEFENSE VEHICLES EXPORTED BY TURKEY ON LAND, SEA AND AIRPORT
LAND VEHICLES
The sale of land vehicles plays an important role in Turkey’s defense exports. While the domestic defense industry not only meets the intensive needs of the Turkish Land Forces, but also sells platforms in the international arena, armored vehicles produced by Turkey and used in its own operations stand out in this field. Armored vehicles, which have been used by Turkish security forces for many years in the execution of a wide range of tasks, especially in the fight against terrorism and the provision of border security, are preferred by foreign countries due to their performance and affordable costs in the field of operation. As of August 2021, it is seen that more than one thousand 500 armored vehicles of Turkish production have been exported to 15 different countries in 8 years and preferred by countries in different geographies such as Qatar, Kuwait, Hungary, Chile, Uzbekistan and Senegal.
This year, Turkish companies working in the field of land vehicles made various export agreements. For example, the “HIZIR 4×4 Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle”, a product of the armored vehicle manufacturer Katmerciler, has been ordered by many African countries in recent years. It is one of the most interesting products abroad in its field. With the agreement signed last year and the deliveries started this year, Hungary became the sixth country in the world and the first in the European Union to prefer the vehicle. While the agreement includes an order for 40 vehicles, Hungary is expected to place new orders in the coming period.
Another success of Turkey in the export of armored vehicles is the agreement signed by BMC with Tunisia to sell 41 “Kirpi 4×4 Mine Protected Vehicles” and 5 “Kirpi Ambulances”. BMC sold 46 Kirpi vehicles to Tunisia last year, and the total number of Kirpi vehicles in the Tunisian Armed Forces inventory will increase to 233.
MARINE VEHICLES
The sale of naval platforms abroad constitutes one of the important export items of the Turkish defense industry. In addition to the extensive modernization of the Turkish Navy, turning it into an effective deterrent, Turkish shipyards also export significant amounts. For example, in December 2020, an agreement was made between Turkey and Ukraine on the production of 4 MİLGEM corvettes for the Ukrainian navy, after which it was decided to build the first ship in Turkey and Ukraine, and the remaining 3 in Ukraine. It was stated that the sales price of the first of the ships, which are island class corvettes, was 137 million dollars. Turkish shipyards had previously produced 4 Ada class corvettes for the Turkish Navy and received an order for the production of 4 ships for the Pakistani Navy.
Since defense products produce security for states, defense exports also create a trust-refreshing and collaborative relationship between the two countries concerned; This situation increases the scope of action in foreign and security policy. In this regard, Turkey’s overseas sales in the field of naval platforms can be explanatory. For example, although Turkey has historically been a friendly country with Pakistan and already has high-level relations, it also wants to develop its relations with India. Likewise, as stated above, 4 corvettes were produced for Pakistan, and 5 support ships were contracted for India. Turkish company TAIS won the tender worth 2.3 billion dollars for the production of 5 fleet support tankers with a capacity of 45 thousand tons for the Indian Navy. however, the project could not be started due to reasons considered to be especially political. Still, the news during the year is that the production of the first ship will start in October and will be delivered to India in four years. In the agreement, which envisages technology transfer by Turkey and the participation of many Indian companies, it is expected that the next ships will be delivered one year apart. The tender won by TAIS, which was established by leading Turkish shipyards to create a worldwide brand, from India could be a reference point for the future. In the agreement, which envisages technology transfer by Turkey and the participation of many Indian companies, it is expected that the next ships will be delivered one year apart. The tender won by TAIS, which was established by leading Turkish shipyards to create a worldwide brand, from India could be a reference point for the future. In the agreement, which envisages technology transfer by Turkey and the participation of many Indian companies, it is expected that the next ships will be delivered one year apart. The tender won by TAIS, which was established by leading Turkish shipyards to create a worldwide brand, from India could be a reference point for the future.
UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
Within the scope of Turkish defense exports, the products that both national and international media show the greatest interest are unmanned aerial vehicles. The performance of these platforms, especially in the context of conflict in Syria, Libya and Karabakh, has made them stand out in the international defense market. More importantly, the weakness of the systems belonging to Russia, which is one of the leading countries in air defense systems, against Turkish UAVs has even led to the questioning of various defense doctrines. These developments increased the interest in Turkish UAV systems during the year, and various state leaders held talks regarding the purchase of UAVs from Turkey.
The most striking development within the scope of UAV platforms during the year was the agreement between Turkey and Poland involving the sale of 24 Bayraktar TB2s. With the agreement signed during Polish President Andrzej Duda’s three-day visit to Turkey, Poland will be the first NATO and EU member state to use a Turkish UAV. Bayraktar TB2, which entered the TAF inventory in 2014, is currently used by the Gendarmerie General Command, the General Directorate of Security and the National Intelligence Organization, as well as the TAF. The product has been exported to Libya, Qatar, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Poland so far. Manufacturing company Baykar Defense stated that as of May, 180 Bayraktar TB2s are in use in Turkey, Ukraine, Qatar and Azerbaijan.
On the other hand, Ukraine, which bought 6 Bayraktar TB2s from Turkey in accordance with the contract signed in 2019, placed new TB2 orders as well as MİLGEM Ada class corvettes at the end of 2020. It is expected that the entire delivery of the first delivered UAVs will be completed by the end of the year and the purchase of more than 40 Bayraktar TB2s in total. Thus, Bayraktar TB2 will also be used in the Ukrainian Naval Forces. In this way, Ukraine aims to effectively monitor the coasts and seas in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and to achieve the ability to strike enemy sea and land elements with high precision.
Another export made in the field of UAV systems is 3 units worth 80 million dollars signed between TAI and Tunisia in December. An agreement involving the sale of ANKA-S UAV and 3 Ground Control Stations. export financing, It was agreed that 52 Tunisian pilots and maintenance personnel would be trained at TAI facilities, while this would be done with a loan to be given to Tunisia by Turkish EXIMBANK. On the other hand, speaking at a special event, a TAI official said, “We will deliver our UAVs to Tunisia in a month or two. Subsequently, there are one or two countries that we work closely with. We are planning to export ANKAs to these places as well.” In addition, ANKA UAV is expected to be included in new inventories abroad in the upcoming period. Then there are one or two countries that we work closely with. We are planning to export ANKAs here as well”. Therefore, besides Bayraktar TB2, ANKA UAV is expected to be included in new inventories abroad in the upcoming period. Then there are one or two countries that we work closely with. We are planning to export ANKAs here as well”. Therefore, besides Bayraktar TB2, ANKA UAV is expected to be included in new inventories abroad in the upcoming period.
While Turkey’s domestic defense industry is able to bring sophisticated solutions to the TAF’s diverse mission needs, it is also attracting increasing attention from international customers. Although a classification is made here as land, sea and unmanned aerial platforms due to space constraints, it should not be overlooked that Turkey’s defense exports include a much wider range of sophisticated products. For example, many countries show interest in Roketsan’s missile systems that provide precision strike capability, similar to Aselsan’s advanced electronic systems, and these systems are sold to many countries. Likewise, besides these examples, many Turkish companies carry out various overseas sales.
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