TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY PRODUCT CATALOGUE

6 HISTORY of PRESIDENCY of DEFENCE INDUSTRIES T he Republic of Turkey founded the Defence Industry Development and Support Administration Office (SAGEB) in 1985 in accordance with Law No. 3238 to enable the modernisation of the Turkish Armed Forces and to develop a national defence industry. This institution will play a significant role in transferring developing military technologies to the Turkish Armed Forces. SAGEB, which has a very flexible structure, has adopted a completely new defence industry concept and paved the way for strategic planning. The priority is to maximise the use of national industry infrastructure and to guide and encourage new advanced technology investments. When SAGEBwas first founded, there were rapid advancements in warfare technologies and combat conditions. Conventional warfare tools underwent significant modifications, notably computer technologies. To adapt, SAGEB’s structure was restructured and transformed into Undersecretariat. The Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) was restructured in 1989 under the Ministry of National Defence. Missions that were determined previously were expanded and sources for self- funding were created. In addition to incentives to integrate advanced warfare technologies into the national defence infrastructure, R&D activities and attracting foreign capital were also prioritised by the Undersecretariat. SSM has aimed to prevent the country from exporting from other countries, notably from NATO members and called for a national defence industry that enables balanced cooperation. SSM envisages a defence infrastructure that has export potential. It is also open to the private sector and has become the key element in transferring technologies that needs to be produced locally to Turkey. SSM experts take part in every step from the planning to the procurement of weapon systems in demand as part of the Turkish Armed Forces’ modernisation. These employees have ensured that industry infrastructure is utilised to the fullest degree and encouraged limited capitals with correct investment incentives. Anewindustrialpolicythatusesavailableopportunities, is integrated and is free from reinvestments has been planned. A dynamic structure, export potential and ability to compete in the international arena are aimed for the developing defence industry. The structure which is capable of quickly adapting to new technologies and producing technology has also called for production for civil purposes. From its establishment until the 2000s, the Undersec- retariat for Defence Industries guided the production of many indigenous and licensed warfare vehicles and executed many technology transfer and off-set projects. The institution started leading design and partial design activities with the desire to participate inmultinational, multi-user and simultaneous projects such as F-35 and A400M. In the light of shrinking internal demands, the Turkish defence industry leaned towards international markets to continue developing and expanding in the 2000s. Technological production capabilities paved the way for opening up to foreign markets. The Turkish defence industry developed primarily as a production centre. The infrastructurewas reorganised The Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) Period New Defence Policies