The Industrial Cooperation Days in Defense and Aerospace (ICCDA) event, organized by the OSTİM Defense and Aerospace Cluster (OSSA) with the support of the Presidency of Defense Industry and the Ministry of Trade, took place at ATO Congresium. Bringing together global players, main contractors, and SMEs in the sector, the event saw companies from over 50 countries, including world giants in their fields, conduct bilateral business meetings with SMEs throughout ICDDA.
The Industrial Cooperation Days in Defence and Aerospace (ICCDA) event, organized by the OSTİM Defence and Aerospace Cluster (OSSA) with the support of the Presidency of Defence Industry and the Ministry of Trade, took place at ATO Congresium.
At the event, which brings together global players, main contractors and organizations in the sector with SMEs, companies from more than 50 countries, including world giants in their fields, held bilateral business meetings with SMEs throughout ICDDA.
The industry is writing a success story.
OSSA Chairman Ahmet Mithat Ertuğ, in his opening speech at the event, emphasized that the Turkish defense industry has written a significant success story with the projects implemented recently. Ertuğ underlined that Türkiye has reached the point of producing the platforms it needs itself, and noted that the progress made and the potential in exports are promising for the future.
Ahmet Mithat Ertuğ stated that the event aimed to establish new collaborations between SMEs and main industry firms with participants from more than 50 countries, and conveyed the following points: Ertuğ said, “While the domestic contribution rate in meeting the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces exceeds 70%, the progress made in exports and the potential for the future are promising. Turkey, which until recently imported almost everything for the defense industry, has now entered a period of maturity. The sector offers very important opportunities and possibilities to SMEs. OSSA was established in July 2008 through the joint efforts of SMEs producing goods and services for the sector.”
OSTİM Chairman Orhan Aydın also expressed his pleasure in hosting OSSA, which brings together more than 300 companies contributing to the defense and aerospace industry, and in being a companion on their journey so far.
Aydın stated that the event was very important not only for the defense and aerospace industry but also for Ankara, and that they were pleased to receive support from many institutions, especially the Presidency of Industry.
Orhan Aydın stated: “We host seven different clusters in our region. We are trying to increase the competitiveness of our companies by bringing them together. These activities carried out by OSSA are very valuable for Ankara. I believe Ankara should embrace this event. And we see this support. In particular, our Presidency of Defense Industry always supports this event. At the same time, our Ministry of Trade supports this event as an international event. The Ankara Chamber of Commerce and the Ankara Chamber of Industry are always by our side. I thank them very much. The companies from over 50 foreign countries that enrich this event are very valuable to us. We believe that ICDDA is a very valuable interface for our SMEs and companies to become suppliers to them in the supply system they will create. We hope to develop and enrich this every day and together achieve even better events.”
More than 230 products are exported.
Ankara Chamber of Commerce President Gürsel Baran stated in his speech that one of the most valuable achievements in the defense and aerospace industry in the last 20 years has been accomplished, reaching a localization rate of up to 80 percent.
Baran stated that significant developments have taken place in the defense industry in the last 20 years, and that Türkiye has reached a point where it can produce its own satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, training aircraft, helicopters, infantry rifles, combat ships, armored vehicles, missiles, and rocket systems. He expressed satisfaction that more than 800 projects with a volume of $60 billion are currently underway in the sector.
Baran noted that the number of countries to which the sector exports has reached 170, the number of exported products has exceeded 230, and the export target for this year is 4 billion dollars.
Baran stated that the sector, which is experiencing its golden age, also makes a significant contribution to value-added exports with its high export value per kilogram, and added that the defense and aerospace industry has placed Türkiye among the leading countries in the world, saying, “Nearly 300 SMEs operate in the defense sector in our country. Approximately 45,000 people are employed in the sector, from engineers and technicians to operators and workers. We are in a position to be one of the leading countries in the world. I believe that this will gradually improve and we will be in an even more advanced position.”
External dependence has fallen to 20%
Ahmet Aydın, Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly's National Defense Commission, also stated that Türkiye has virtually revolutionized defense and aviation. He noted that dependence on foreign sources in this area has fallen to around 20%, and that the needs of both the country and friendly and allied nations are being met.
Aydın stated that with approximately 1500 companies developing original products, one of the country's strongest sectors has been created, adding, "Our country is now investing in the technologies of the future, beyond meeting today's needs, in line with the capabilities it has gained in the defense and aerospace industry. We are also pleased to share the capabilities and opportunities we have developed in the defense industry with our friends and allies."
"Türkiye has become the country that manufactures the Kalashnikov for UAVs"
Serdar Demirel, Deputy Head of the Presidency of Defence Industries, reminded that regional wars have become commonplace today and that wars are taking place in many parts of the world.
Demirel stated that living in peace and tranquility depends on the defense industry, and that the Kalashnikov is not the most advanced or expensive weapon in the world, but stands out because it is very practical, useful, and easy to acquire. He continued: "The difference that the Turkish defense industry brings to the world defense industry stems from this. UAVs are not new; they have existed for perhaps 10 years. But Turkey is the one that made the Kalashnikov of the UAV. Turkey is not stopping here; it is continuing. We needed to find the most optimal solution. Our unmanned naval vessels will arrive soon. Our unmanned land vehicles, various robots, in other words, our work continues on game-changing and deterrent new weapon systems. In my opinion, one of the biggest reasons for the rapid rise and differentiation of the Turkish defense industry within the world defense industry is this. Because we did what hadn't been done before; we thought differently."
