Qatar-based Al Jazeera focused on Türkiye's achievements in the defense industry in recent years with the documentary titled "Turkish Weapons: The Limits of Production and Independence". In the production, where the production facilities of Turkish defense companies were displayed, domestic technologies developed by Türkiye, especially KAAN, Steel Dome, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense systems and military ships, were featured.
In the documentary, attention was drawn to the capacity Türkiye has reached in the defense industry in platform, ammunition, radar, electronic system, missile and engine technologies.
STEEL DOME UNITES Türkiye'S AIR DEFENSE FORCE
The Steel Dome project, which is at the center of Türkiye's layered air defense architecture, was one of the prominent topics of the documentary. The project, which aims to ensure the coordinated operation of different air defense systems under a single structure, aims to strengthen Türkiye's air defense capacity.
In his previous statement regarding the Steel Dome project, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "Hopefully, we will implement the steel dome project, which will turn it into a fully integrated system with all its elements... If some people have an iron dome, we will also have a steel dome." He used the following expressions:
Roketsan General Manager Murat Ekinci stated that the Steel Dome was "developed entirely with Turkish means and represents the essence of the steps taken towards national defense independence."
DOMESTIC TECHNOLOGY EMPHASIS IN ALP-300G RADAR
Radar technologies also hold an important place in Türkiye's air defense capability. The ALP-300G radar developed by ASELSAN is aimed to be used in long-range detection and tracking missions.
ASELSAN Radar Program Manager Bora Kartal said that the radar was developed in Türkiye from the smallest electronic components to the complete system.
Kartal stated that the ALP-300G has a similar function to the search radar in the Russian S-400 system, and said, "When we compare its performance with the S-400 radars, it surpasses them in many aspects."
ASELSAN engineer also drew attention to the domestic production level of the radar and said, "With only local resources, without the need for any external parts. The entire system, starting from the smallest electronic components, was developed in Türkiye." he said.
LOCAL AND NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY FEATURES IN KAAN
One of the important parts of the documentary was devoted to Türkiye's fifth generation fighter plane KAAN. The development process of KAAN was considered as an important example of Türkiye establishing its own design and production capabilities in warplane technology.
KAAN Chief Engineer Sabit stated that the fifth generation warplanes include the US F-22, Russia's Su-57 and China's J-20, and said, "Our class includes aircraft such as the F-22, the Russian aircraft Su-57 and the Chinese aircraft J-20." he said.
Regarding KAAN's targeted capabilities, Sabit said, "Our air-air and maneuverability will be much higher."
Drawing attention to the local structure of KAAN, Wild made the following assessment:
"Our aircraft is a 100 percent national project. Its most important feature is that we are developing it from scratch. All its components are locally and nationally sourced, including the locally designed operating system. We can count this aircraft as a real example of the 'Make Your Own Airplane' project, which was initiated in the 70s."
Savaş stated that Türkiye's goal is not limited to producing fifth-generation fighter jets and said, "Currently, only four countries have been able to develop fifth-generation fighter jets. Our main goal is not the 5th generation, but to create the infrastructure of the road to the 6th generation." he said.
Regarding KAAN's future capabilities, he said, "Our air-to-air and maneuverability will be much higher. It will be an aircraft with much higher stealth ability."
It was also reminded in the documentary that President Erdoğan announced that 48 KAANs would be exported within the scope of the agreement made with Indonesia.
Türkiye AIMS TO BE DOMESTIC IN FIGHTER PLANE ENGINE
Türkiye's localization drive in the defense industry also extends to fighter jet engine technologies. TEI General Manager Akşit stated that Türkiye is carrying out comprehensive studies to achieve full independence in fighter jet engines.
Akşit stated that developing a fifth-generation fighter jet engine is a long process that requires advanced technologies and said, "This is a long and complex process. When we succeed in producing the engine of an aircraft like KAAN, it will be clear proof that we can also produce all other engines." he said.
TURKISH DEFENSE INDUSTRY IS GETTING STRONGER AT THE SEA TOO
Al Jazeera team also viewed the production processes of Turkish military ships. In the documentary, it was stated that the technologies developed by Turkish defense companies such as ASELSAN and ROKETSAN stand out in the detection and weapon systems used on ships.
It was stated that the US-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles previously used on Turkish warships were replaced by ATMACA developed by ROKETSAN, and imported radar and fire control systems were replaced with domestic solutions.
The documentary included the assessment that the goal of increasing the rate of domestic components in the Turkish defense industry from 80 percent to 100 percent is no longer "an unattainable goal."
EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD ADDS STRENGTH TO DOMESTIC SYSTEMS
ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol pointed out the importance of the experience gained from the field in the development of Turkish defense systems.
Akyol said, "Our products are actually and intensively used by the armed forces. Every product we offer is tested in real environments and under real combat conditions and is developed based on these experiences."
Stating that it is an important advantage for Turkish defense companies to be able to directly respond to the needs in the field, Akyol said, "This is an advantage that only a very few countries can offer. Our products are technically superior and based on proven field experience. We can offer used and proven systems." he said.
PRAISE FOR Türkiye'S DEFENSE MODEL
In the documentary, Türkiye's development in the defense industry was discussed, including the evaluations of foreign experts.
Regarding Türkiye's approach in the field of defense technologies, Romanian Minister of Defense Miruța said, "The method followed by Türkiye in developing defense technologies and industry has aroused great interest. I believe that this experience of Türkiye can serve as an example for our region." he said.
One of the foreign experts in the documentary also pointed out the progress Türkiye has made in the defense industry and said, "Turkey started from a low level and managed to catch up with many countries with advanced technology in the field of defense. It has significantly reduced the gap."
REMARKABLE FIGURE IN UAV EXPORTS FROM Türkiye
Türkiye's success in unmanned aerial vehicle exports was also included in the documentary. According to information provided by Turkish officials, Türkiye has signed contracts to supply more than 800 unmanned aerial vehicles to 50 countries since 2012.
Drawing attention to Türkiye's position in the UAV field, he said, "Today, we are at the forefront of unmanned aerial vehicle exports worldwide." expressions were used.
EMPHASIS ON "TRUE INDEPENDENCE"
Defense Industry President Haluk Görgün stated that Türkiye's goal of independence in the field of defense is not limited to producing platforms.
Görgün said, "The real power of an army is not just about numerical data. The real power lies in having full control of all processes, from platforms to ammunition, from software to electronic systems." he said.
Görgün also expressed Türkiye's goal in the defense industry with the following words:
"We cannot talk about real independence for Türkiye unless we ensure full control at all stages, from military platforms to ammunition, from software to electronic systems."
