Turkey's defense industry now bypasses Israel

The Israeli defense industry is facing difficult times since the breakdown of its relationship with Turkey in 2010, IHLS, an enterprise dealing with Israeli Homeland Security (HLS), said on October 7.

In a recent article published by the IHLS, “Israeli Defense Industry Is Facing Even More Difficult Times," Israeli defense officials admitted that Turkey is becoming a growing power in the region with its own rising defense industry.

Israel's defense industry is experiencing hard times as Turkey, once a prime customer for Israeli arms, stopped buying weapons from them after the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010, the article said.

Both diplomatic and political relations, along with economic and defense ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv have sunk to a low level after Israeli security forces attacked a “freedom flotilla"- ships bearing humanitarian aid and aid workers from all over the world, led by a Turkish humanitarian aid agency- heading to Gaza, and killed nine Turkish citizens.

“Up until the flotilla ordeal, Turkey was considered a bottomless pit for Israeli industries, who sold to Turkey its system in hundreds of millions of dollars, and with more potential still" the IHLS said, and added “But then came the breaking point in the relationship between the two countries."

Turkey is not only not buying products from Israel, but has started to manufacture its own weapons.

According to the article, after the Mavi Marama incident, Turkey, not only some companies but the whole defense industry, decided not to buy Israeli products and to compete with Israel's defense industry as well.

In recent years, Turkey has begun to produce its own tanks, artillery helicopters, drones and other weapons.

Altay is the third generation+ main battle tank (MBT) of the Republic of Turkey and is being locally produced

ALTAY is Turkey's domestically designed and manufactured third-generation+ main battle tank (MBT). Altay is the first national MBT developed under the National Tank Project (MITÜP ALTAY) programme for the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC).

Developed under Turkey's largest land platform project, ALTAY, the Turkey's first national MBT, was designed to meet Turkish Armed Forces' future requirements.

The Altay MBT is equipped with a state-of-the-art Volkan fire control system -- enabling enhanced armor protection, mobility and fire power -- and battlefield management system, indigenously developed by ASELSAN.

Export of all armored vehicles is subject to requirements of related governments' export license regulations.

The Altay also has a hunter-killer capability.

This new main battle tank is operated by a crew of four, including commander, gunner, loader and driver. It is capable of fording water obstacles up to 4.1 m deep.

The Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) embarked on the National Tank project to improve the technical capabilities of Turkish defense and to increase the domestic contribution to national defense.

Earlier this year, the SSM signed an agreement with Turkey's biggest diesel and tractor engine producer, TÜMOSAN, about producing motors for Turkish indigenous Altay tanks. The agreement is of great importance for using domestic technology for the country's defense industry.

Turkey's first locally co-manufactured assault helicopter ATAK, The T-129 multi-role attack helicopter, began operations in June 2014, when three helicopters joined the Turkish military inventory.

The helicopters are now being used in ongoing counter-terrorism operations against the PKK in the southeastern part of the country.

Designed to operate in extreme heat, the T129 can be deployed in a wide range of operations including attack, reconnaissance and deterrent missions.

ATAK, the T-129 attack helicopters, which were co-produced by Italy's AgustaWestland and the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) at Turkey's southeastern military bases, is ready to address a range of new export opportunities and requirements in the global market.The T-129 helicopter has attracted interest from Azerbaijan, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the UAE.

Azerbaijan is the first foreign customer for T-129 helicopters. The country announced its intention to purchase some 60 ATAK T 129 helicopters under a contract with TAI worth up to 3 billion US dollars.

Countries such as Bahrain, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, Poland, The Gambia, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines have shown interest in the T-129.

The Anka is Turkey's first indigenous medium-altitude, long-endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

ANKA can usually operate for 24 hours at an altitude of 10,000 feet.

Anka, meaning Phoenix, is the first MALE-type UAV to be produced by Tusaş Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

Recently, Turkey's procurement planners have moved to add satellite communications capabilities to the Anka and have brought together a task force that will design and develop an indigenous engine for the UAV.

Two other national programs, Bayraktar and the Karayel UAVs, are going ahead at high speed.

The IHLS article stated that Turkey increased its defense industry activities when the country signed cooperation agreements with US manufacturers of aviation equipment and engines. “The wages are lower in Turkey than in Israel, and so the Turkish companies could become a substantial competitor for Israel."

IHLS cited a source in the Israeli security services saying, “We have lost the Turkish market in every field, and it seems that the plane maintenance and reconfiguration field will see the Turks competing with us."

“Not only have we lost Turkey as a big client, it has started competing with us in weapons systems as well," the source said.

Turkish industries are entering fields held by the Israeli defense industries, with massive assistance from their government.

The article said that Israel is still in a good spot in the world amongst exporters of defense systems, but the competition is growing fast. Without a change, Israel will lose its hard-earned spot as Turkey moves to become the game changer in the region.