The coronavirus pandemic has challenged businesses around the world this year, but few sectors have been disrupted as much as the aerospace industry. Companies will need exhibit both innovation and attention to detail as they seek to bounce back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the first 9 months of 2020, the COVID outbreak caused the commercial aircraft market to shrink by about 40 percent,\u201d said Naki Polat, president of Turkey\u2019s Defense and Aerospace Industry Exporters\u2019 Association, known as SSI. \u201cIn the post-COVID recovery period, new standards in passenger transport, new products designed accordingly and adapted production processes are being investigated. Companies that revise their investment plans are turning to next-generation technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkey\u2019s almost 50 years of experience in aerospace help position the country\u2019s industry for recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than a century in the skies<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Turkish Air Force was established in 1911 and helped win the War of Turkish Independence in 1922. When the country joined the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance in 1952, it took delivery of its first jet fighters, which were used to protect NATO\u2019s southern regions during the Cold War. As the Turkish Air Force flew these aircraft – such as the F-100, F-104 and now the F-16 – it participated in NATO air operations in the Balkans, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Libya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Training and education have served as pillars of Turkey\u2019s aerospace community. The country started providing higher education for pilots in 1941 and then in 1973, it established the Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (Turkish Aerospace) to reduce its reliance on the defense industries of other countries. Today, pilots in the Turkish Air Force generally fly twice the monthly flight time required of NATO pilots to gain experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leveraging industry<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the country\u2019s Air Force has evolved, the Turkish defense industry has made advances as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkey\u2019s military aerospace capabilities improved steadily and leapt forward in the 1980s with the establishment of Turkish Aerospace facility near Ankara. The company now manufactures T129 ATAK helicopters, ANKA MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) UAV systems as well as HURKU\u015e Training Aircraft. Turkish Aerospace plans to leverage its experience and knowhow with the new utility helicopter GOKBEY, advanced jet trainer HURJET and fifth-generation National Fighter Aircraft (MMU) for the Turkish Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTurkey has never stopped investing in critical technologies, training valuable human sources and initiating synergy through our industry to be a reliable partner for all levels of international cooperation,\u201d said Ismail Demir, president of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB). \u201cTurkey has key companies for major components on our platforms, including airframe, engines, mission equipment and weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among those leading businesses TEI manufacturing propulsion systems and engines for fixed and rotary wing platforms and unmanned air vehicles, and has been a critical contractor for Turkey\u2019s aviation ecosystem. Aselsan, is a key provider of electronics and avionics equipment for air, naval and systems, including fifth-generation fighter. And Havelsan, is a company developing software and flight simulators to prepare pilots for next generation air platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The future of Turkey\u2019s aerospace industry<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkey\u2019s future in aerospace will be dependent on expanding technological capabilities as well as qualified manpower. Unmanned systems and helicopters are among the country\u2019s top priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baykar Defence produces the TB-2 combat MALE UAV, which as has been used in both national and international missions and Roketsan is one of the leading missiles and ammunition provider of airborne operations along with government-based corporations MKEK and TUBITAK. Two other Turkish contractors, Vestel and STM, are making headway in unmanned operations as well. Vestel has built drones for combat and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance while STM has focused on unmanned systems for reconnaissance and surveillance for fixed and rotary-winged systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRadar and electronic warfare technologies, flight controls, turbine engines, mission computers, advanced composite materials, rotorcraft mechanics and smart weapons are essential for a strong aerospace industry,\u201d Demir said. \u201cSSB has development programs for these technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A series of other Turkish subcontractors are also expected to play key roles here. They include Meteksan, which produces advanced technologies such as radar and sensor systems; Kale Aero, which builds components including engine parts, structural parts and mini jet engines; Alp Aviation, which manufactures structural body and engine parts, as well as landing gear for helicopter and aircraft platforms; SDT, which produces training and electronic systems; Asfat, which performs maintenance and repair services for military factories; and Turkish Technic, which has established itself among the world leaders in maintenance and repair; and many others which manufacture structural components for a variety of platforms, including aerospace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is important to be ready for the future, companies investing for new technologies and capabilities and prepare their infrastructure will adapt themselves easily than the others.\u201d Polat said. \u201cThe Turkish defense and aerospace industry, will continue to increase its international cooperation in the post-pandemic period as well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":29420,"menu_order":0,"template":"single-native-legacy","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"15"},"advertiser":[3649],"class_list":["post-16044","native","type-native","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","advertiser-turkish-defence-aerospace"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"ABDOEUHFWBBRJISQBF2YG32NCE","arc_canonical_url":"\/native\/turkish-defence-aerospace\/2020\/12\/11\/turkeys-plan-to-keep-aerospace-defense-forces-soaring\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"native-layout","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n