Page 109 - TURKRptMay19

Turkish defence company Otokar produces first electric armoured vehicle. Turkish defence firm Otokar has unveiled Turkey’s first armoured electric vehicle, the Akrep II manufactured at its plant in the western Sakarta province. Serdar Gorguc, Otokar’s general manager, noted that 32 countries use military vehicles and equipment produced by Otokar. The company has invested over TRY1bn over 10 years in R&D activities, according to Gorguc. The first version of the Akrep was introduced in 1994. It has been widely used by Turkish security forces. Otokar, owned by Turkey’s largest conglomerate Koc Holding, is the country’s largest private defence firm. It is the biggest exporter of land platforms and the Turkish Armed Forces’ biggest supplier. The company also produces buses for public transportation, trailers, and trucks. Last year Otokar doubled its export revenues to $211mn while its overall revenues declined by 6% to TRY1.7bn. However, the company managed to increase its net income by 65% from the previous year to TRY164mn. According to information on the company’s website, one out of every three buses used in Turkey last year was produced by Otokar. The company exports buses to more than 50 countries, mostly to Europe. It has affiliates in France (Otokar SAS Europe), Romania and the United Arab Emirates (Otokar Land Systems).
Russia and Turkey jointly developing advanced aircraft and armoured vehicle components: Rosoboronexport. Russia and Turkey are jointly developing advanced aircraft and helicopter systems and armoured vehicle components, Russian state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport, part of Rostec Conglomerate, said in a statement on April 29 as relayed by Reuters. Nato member Turkey is involved in a longstanding disagreement with the US over a $3.5bn order it has placed to purchase Russia’s advanced S-400 missile defence system.
Turkey’s Kale Group says F-35 programme exclusion would prompt turn to civil aviation. Turkish aerospace manufacturer Kale Group informed media on April 30 that if disagreements between Ankara and Washington reduce parts orders and exclude the company from the F-35 stealth fighter jet project it would offset any lost sales by turning to civil aviation. "There’s been no affect on our business so far," Kale vice president Osman Okyay told reporters. "These are large, complex parts, manufacturing continues uninterrupted. We have a five-year backlog of orders." Kale Group and its subsidiary manufacture the cockpit and front fuselage parts for the F-35. Kale Pratt & Whitney, a partnership with the Pratt & Whitney division of US-based United Technologies, produces engine parts for the plane. Kale produces parts for both Boeing and Airbus.
109 TURKEY Country Report May 2019 www.intellinews.com