Page 14 - Global Power Turkish Defence Industry

War and military and political polarization. Foreign Corporation (MKEK) which was formed as a State
military aid that started pouring in upon Turkey’s Economic Enterprise on 15 March 1950.
membership in NATO and soared within a short
period, stalled the development of local defence However, development of weaponry and military
industry which was still at its infancy. equipment was kept on the agenda by the Research and
As a result, efforts for the development of a local Development Department formed in 1954 under the
defence industry slowed down; orders of Turkish Ministry of National Defence and in 1970 development
Armed Forces from local suppliers diminished studies of defence industry would be resumed.
inevitably, and in the end military facilities became
a part of the Machinery and Chemical Industry It was a period of regional conflicts and the Cyprus
issue. Cyprus crises in 1963 and 1967, the Cyprus
Peace Operation in 1974, and the arms embargo
imposed on Turkey as a result of this Peace Operation,
necessitated the development of a national defence
industry. Having suffered a great deal because of
its dependence on foreign supply, Turkey started to
seek ways to reactivate national defence industry.
During this period when investments based on import
substitution were common, production of G-3 and
MG-3 rifles by MKEK under German licenses were
concrete examples of this policy put into practice.

1974-1985

The 1970’s were an era when solid initiatives were
put into force so as to establish a national defence
industry. As a result of the national reaction to the arms
embargo against Turkey, Armed Forces Foundation
was established. Although the Foundation formed
enterprises such as Aselsan, Havelsan, Aspilsan thanks
to the donations, it was soon realized that the actual
need for a contemporary defence industry could not
be met through the Foundation alone.
14 TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY