Entry of Foreign Electric Vehicles is Banned in Defense Industry Facilities

TEI General Manager Mahmut Faruk Akşit announced that foreign electric vehicles are not allowed in ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN and TEI campuses.

TUSAŞ Engine Industry (TEI) General Manager Prof. Dr. Mahmut Faruk Akşit made evaluations regarding information and facility security in the defense industry at the conference organized by Pamukkale University in Denizli.

Akşit stated that foreign electric vehicles are not allowed to enter ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN and TEI campuses. Citing the cameras, sensors and software systems in the vehicles as the reason for this application, Akşit stated that these hardware can collect images and location data about the surroundings of the facilities.

Akşit used the following statements in his statement on the subject:

"We don't let foreign electric cars into the campus anymore. Because there are too many sensors, cameras, etc., they map them and we don't have control."

Software control at the center of security debate

One of the prominent topics in Akşit's evaluation was who has the software control of electric and connected vehicles. He argued that the possibility of remote control of vehicles or external intervention in software systems could pose a security risk, especially in areas where military facilities are located.

Akşit stated that, unlike foreign electric vehicles, domestic vehicles can be taken to campuses and explained this preference because the software and control systems are available in Turkey.

However, the statement did not share any concrete examples of a particular vehicle brand being controlled remotely or such an incident occurring against defense industry facilities. The statements reflect Akşit's assessments of technology and security risks.

Critical information is kept separate from the internet

Akşit also emphasized that information security in the defense industry is not limited to just tools. He said that TEI uses systems that are physically separated from the internet connection in order to protect critical information.

This approach aims to protect confidential information against access and intervention risks that may come from external networks. In the statements of the Ministry of National Defense regarding defense industry security, it is stated that information security measures should be implemented in facilities where confidential work is carried out.

Has the joint official ban decision been published?

Akşit's statement brought to the agenda the vehicle acceptance policy stated to be implemented on the campuses of the four institutions in question. However, in public sources, there is no decision text published jointly by the four institutions or an official regulation determining the scope of the application.