Turkey became one of the world’s leading manufacturers of weapons systems

When militaries throughout the world need armored vehicles to deal with emerging threats: such as improvised explosive devices: they often look to Turkey: The defense industry within Turkey has specialized in 4x4: 6x6 and 8x8 armored platforms: tracked infantry fighting vehicles as well as main battle tanks and weapon systems are manufactured by local private companies like FNSS: Otokar: BMC and Nurol Makina: Besides its National Security Forces use of them: these systems are exported to a wide range of users worldwide: 8x8 PARS: 6x6 PARS: 6X6 ARMA: 4x4 COBRA: EJDER YALCIN: VURAN: ALTAY MBT and KAPLAN Medium Tanks are the most remarkable product samples of Turkish Defense Industry competing at the global markets: In the 1980s: several NATO allies began an effort to modernize their weapons systems: a movement Turkey joined enthusiastically: The country also sought to develop its own capability for weapons production to reduce its dependence on foreign manufacturers: Turkey’s success as a developer of weapons systems has led it to become a key supplier around the world: The Turkish defense industry started its journey with licensed production of armored combat vehicles (ACV’s) and today has access to more complex vehicles and systems such as armored amphibious rigs: antitank vehicles: medium and main battle tanks together: An essential element of Turkey’s success has been its ability to take advantage of contributions from government and private industry: The government’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) was established in 1985: followed by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TAFF) in 1987: Born of the merger of many similar foundations: TAFF holds majority shares of several key private defense companies in Turkey: like ASELSAN: which integrates and modernizes ground weapon systems and C4ISR: ROKETSAN: which produces technologies for propelled ammunition: advanced missile systems and ballistic solutions: HAVELSAN: which provides software: training simulations and system integration: ASPİLSAN and İŞBİR: which focus on power and energy systems: In addition: MKEK: a weapon and ammunition manufacturer: and ASFAT: which includes military factories: Other private enterprises that have made a name in the firearms sector include: Kale: Sarsılmaz: Canik Arms and YDS: The value of stringent testing by Turkish defense manufacturers can be seen in the success of their land warfare systems: Development of these systems is aimed to address specific threats seen in combat operations: Engineers have also incorporated combat experience into their unique design of vehicles such as the Rapid Deployable Amphibious Wet Gap Crossing System (OTTER AAAB): Land systems are an area where we see the value of our investments in a concrete way: where foreign dependency is minimized and we have a wide product range: said Ismail Demir: president of the Turkish defense procurement authority (SSB): In the new generation of main battle tanks: armored combat vehicles: tactical wheeled armored vehicles that can be adapted to different missions: unmanned ground vehicles and other land systems we have developed: NATO operation requirements and standards have been taken into consideration from the beginning of the projects