Türkiye advances defense with national projects amid global conflicts

As global conflicts continue to escalate, Türkiye, situated at the heart of turmoil, is making significant strides in defense.

Focusing on indigenous projects, Ankara is bolstering its capabilities on land, air, and sea with domestically produced equipment, technology, and software.

Recently, on Aug. 30th, during Victory Day celebrations, Türkiye showcased its locally produced defense vehicles while continuing to develop several other products. One of the highlights is Türkiye’s first indigenous helicopter, Gokbey.

Just a few days ago, the Gokbey General Purpose Helicopter performed a ‘victory flight,’ marking a milestone in its testing and certification process, which continues successfully. The serial production of three T625 Gokbey helicopters is underway, with plans to deliver them to the Gendarmerie General Command.

In addition, integration work on various equipment continues. Aselsan has developed Tolun, an infrared seeker-guided munition, as one of the products to bolster Türkiye’s aerial capabilities. Bayraktar Akinci successfully completed the Tolun munition firing test, demonstrating its effectiveness.

Gokdogan’s direct hit

Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir recently shared footage of Türkiye’s first indigenous beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Gokdogan, successfully hitting a target drone. Developed by Tubitak Sage, Gokdogan is a high-performance missile with superior maneuverability, designed to ensure Türkiye’s air superiority.

Cyber shield for Blue Homeland

While Türkiye strengthens its defense with advanced equipment, it also liberates itself from foreign dominance in the field by developing its own software and systems. Tubitak has integrated systems into ships and submarines to protect every inch of the Blue Homeland. The Muren Combat Management System provides target detection, tracking, classification, track management, and target movement analysis on submarines, while also enabling the launch and guidance of modern heavy torpedoes, including the indigenous Akya torpedo.

Submarines boost underwater power

Last week, Türkiye took another significant step in safeguarding the Blue Homeland. The Turkish Navy received the delivery of the TCG Piri Reis, the first of Reis-class submarines. The flag-raising and initial navigation trials of the Hizir Reis submarine were also completed, with service entry planned for 2025. The Murat Reis submarine, which has begun outfitting, is expected to enter service in 2026. Additionally, construction continues on other indigenous submarines, Aydin Reis, Seydi Ali Reis, and Selman Reis, with all submarines in the project expected to be operational by 2029.

Altay’s serial production

On land, the domestically produced Altay tank, one of Türkiye’s key military assets, has entered serial production. Equipped with a locally developed armor system, the Altay tank boasts a top speed of 65 kilometers per hour, a submersion capability of up to 4 meters, and a 1,500-horsepower engine.

These advancements underline Türkiye’s commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities with indigenous technologies as it navigates a turbulent global landscape.