Page 16 - Global Power Turkish Defence Industry

However, regional problems Turkey faced in
the 1960’s, Cyprus crises in 1963 and 1967,
the Cyprus Peace Operation in 1974 and the
arms embargo following the Peace Operation
necessitated the development of a defence
industry based on national resources. In
1974 Turkish Armed Forces Foundation was
established with this understanding in mind
and several investments, though limited, were
initiated.
1985-2006

During the 1980’s, state initiative was
undertaken to realize the modernization of the
Turkish Armed Forces and the establishment
of a national defence industry based on
contemporary technology was determined as
the primary goal.

The first step in this direction was taken by
the establishment of Defence Equipment
Directorate as a state enterprise. However,
the shortcomings stemming from its inert
status blocked its success and before long
Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM)
was born in 1985 under Law No:3238.
2006-Present

“Meeting the needs of the TSK” was the major
motivation behind the defence industrial
breakthrough of 1980s mainly because of the
arms embargoes laid on Turkey in 1970s. At that
time, there was no strive for putting Turkish
defence industry products on foreign markets
and utilizing them as a tool of foreign policy.
Although Turkish defence industry turned
towards exports to foreign markets because
of the decrease in the domestic demand –
especially after the 2001 Economic Crisis – the
support provided by the state lagged behind
the expectations. Importance of the subject
was recognized in the period starting from
2006 and each and every level of bureaucracy
took important steps towards supporting
defence industry exports. From 2006 onwards,
local firms started to be utilized as the
main contractors in defence procurements.
Feasibility studies that enables to schedule

16 TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY