Page 12 - ADT AUG - OCT 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

ahead of schedule. We require to
perform some flight testing along
with the air force, some additional
fine-tuning of various aspects of
the platform and then we will look
to start series production. We are
looking to have at least two flying
prototypes, maybe more depend-
ing on the need. The trials could
take six months to a year. There
is interest in the programme from
potential export customers, but
it is still too early to talk about
exports.

Q What explains the success of
Türkiye’s drone programmes?

Well to put it simply, we started
early. Türkiye is located in a part
whatever we promised. At present Q How important is it to have a
our plan is to begin deliveries of strong domestic defence industry of the world, where we require
the Kaan fighter jet to the Turkish ecosystem for the development of many different types of plat-
Air Force by the end of 2028. a 5th gen fighter jet? forms and systems to defend
our borders and defend against
terror activities. So it was this
This is a very challenging goal, Of course there is no doubt that need for border protection and
but we are not going to change this is of critical importance. We monitoring that triggered the need
and we will target delivery of the have companies like Aselsan, for development of advanced
first aircraft by the end of 2028. which has a deep expertise in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS),
So all our plans and develop- avionics and Electronic Warfare much before many other coun-
ments and everything else are (EW) and radar. As a result we tries required such platforms. We
going in that direction. We will can focus on the platform and started working on the 1st gener-
build a minimum of four flying pro- don’t have to develop these tech- ation of the Anka UAS in 2007. Of
totypes as part of the design and nologies on our own and certainly course many other Turkish com-
development programme. don’t have to buy it from some- panies were also developing other
one else. Especially, because types of UAS to meet the needs
when you need it, they won’t sell of the Turkish defence forces.
Engine development is ongoing it to you. So we are working very
as is development of most of the closely with Aseslan, Roketsan, Once the performance of these
subsystems, accessories and and many other Turkish other drones was observed in various
everything else, which are all companies. An advanced fighter conflicts, other nations began to
being developed and executed by like the Kaan cannot be devel- notice their effectiveness. Even
our domestic defence ecosystem. oped by just one company, it then, as late as 2018, the UAV
So the Kaan program is much requires an entire ecosystem, in world was not even close to what
more than the development of a which Turkish Aerospace is sup- we are right now. As they say,
fighter jet, it is also the creation of ported by the entire industry. where there is a will there is a
the ecosystem, because so many way. It was decided at the high-
things are being developed for the Q Please provide an update on est levels of the Government we
first time. Regarding the engine, the Anka III UCAV? would develop this technology
you are well aware that we have indigenously and not deal with
started the programme by using The Anka III is being designed embargoes or supply of defence
the American F110 engine. primarily to meet the needs of the equipment with restrictions on
However, our subsidiaries that Turkish Air Force. We are pretty their use. This approach helped
handle engine development are much where we want to be in propel our UAV industry forward.
already working on an engine that terms of the programme sched- Because if you cannot get it, you
will deliver 35,000 Ibs of thrust. ule, in fact, I would say we are have to make it on your own..

12 | AUGUST - OCTOBER 2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/ADT