Türkiye cuts reliance on foreign suppliers with domestic military cables

As part of nationalization efforts, the Turkish defense industry domestically produces cables that adhere to military standards for land, air, naval, rocket, missile and satellite platforms

In a major step toward self-reliance in its defense industry, Türkiye has started producing cables that adhere to military standards for land, air, naval, rocket, missile, and satellite platforms.

Milkab Defense Industry, established in 2021 through a brand partnership and officially formed in 2023, aims to eliminate dependence on foreign suppliers for military-standard cables used in domestically developed platforms. This move aligns with Turkey’s National Technology Move agenda, a strategic initiative to bolster domestic production capabilities in critical technological sectors.

Milkab’s first successful story involved the development of the Silicone Power Group Cable Family for Aselsan Gucumuz Bir Platformu (Our Strength is One Platform). These cables meet military standards and are resistant to wear, friction, impact, temperature, chemicals, and corrosion. Additionally, these cables are halogen-free, fire-resistant, have a low smoke density, have a long lifespan, and are suitable for a wide range of specific tasks. Milkab serves over 50 Turkish defense industry companies in its nationalization efforts.

Due to the demanding working conditions, Milkab is currently making intensive efforts to manufacture cables for land, air, sea, rocket, missile and satellite platforms.

While talking to Anadolu Agency, Yavuz Ekinci, general manager of Milkab, said that many original design platform projects have been completed with the help of the Presidency of Defense Industries and their plan to build a strong sub-industry for small and medium-sized businesses and subcontractors in the nationalization efforts of big companies like Aselsan, TAI, Havelsan, Roketsan, Isbir, FNSS, BMC, Nurol, Otokar and shipyards.

Ekinci emphasized that Milkab aims to eliminate external dependency on military-standard cables sourced from abroad within these platforms and has already introduced the cable product families they developed for platform and subsystem use.

Intensive work on national defense products

Expressing great pride and happiness in supporting efforts to increase the nationalization rate in the defense industry within the framework of the National Technology Move, Ekinci said: “Our main goal is to produce military-standard cables used in defense industry projects using domestic resources rather than sourcing them from abroad.

We are striving to bring these products to our defense industry in a cost-effective, efficient, and rapid way after completing the research and development, testing, and qualification processes. By nationalizing the silicone power cables within the Aselsan ‘Our Strength is One Platform,’ we became one of the 150 companies supporting this effort. Building on the strength of our product nationalization for Aselsan, we continue our collaboration efforts for the nationalization of cables used in various projects of Roketsan and Havelsan. Additionally, our cost-effective collaborations with manufacturers involved in wiring activities for our main contractor companies are increasing.”

Enriching product portfolio

Ekinci stated that it aims to become a reliable strategic business partner in military cable production for the Turkish defense industry. It continues its activities in an effort to achieve this difficult goal using R&D-based studies and the country’s testing and certification infrastructure.

Referring to the strategic plan published by the Presidency of Defense Industries for the 2024–2028 period, Ekinci mentioned that they are taking steps to export cables used in domestic projects to friendly and allied countries. He also noted that they are continuing their efforts to enrich localization-nationalization activities, increase export opportunities and expand the product portfolio.

Source: AA