31 Oktober 2011

Turkey will become the first nation have the ability to receive information on the F-16 fighters’ software source codes -- primarily their weapons systems -- thereby enabling it to replace them with national software source codes whenever necessary. (photo : Turkey Air Force)

Turkey to rewrite software source codes of 204 F-16 fighters

The US administration agreed in principle almost two months ago for the transfer of information over software source codes of US Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighters to Turkey.

Once the agreement is completed, and if approved by the US Congress, Turkey will have the capability to automatically modify the software source codes of the fighters’ weapons systems with national software source codes, said US sources who asked not to be named.Turkey will become the first nation among 26 to have the F-16s in their inventories and have the ability to receive information on the F-16 fighters’ software source codes -- primarily their weapons systems -- thereby enabling it to replace them with national software source codes whenever necessary.

Once Turkey and the US complete around 50 pages of technical details over the nature of the US transfer of technology, an agreement should be signed, pending US congressional approval.

The US Congress has long prevented arms transfers to NATO member Turkey, mainly in reaction to its strained ties with Israel.

However, the US administration has as of late sought US congressional authorization for the sale of three AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters to Turkey. This indicates a softening on the part of the congress toward Turkey.

Turkey has a long-standing request for Super Cobras. It has a shortage of these helicopters, required in its ongoing fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists, who have increased their violent attacks as of late.

Meanwhile, it is not clear whether the US administration will seek US congressional authorization for another long-standing Turkish request for the sale of four Predator unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and two armed Reaper UAVs.

However, some of the weapons, including Predators that the US reportedly pledged to transfer to Turkey as it withdraws from Iraq in December of this year, are said to not be subject to the approval of the US Congress. These are weapons the US used during its war in Iraq.

Missile defense link

US sources stated that Washington has agreed in principle to transfer the information mainly concerning the weapon systems of the F-16s so that Turkey can integrate by itself the national software source codes because Turkey has pursued a very persistent policy on the matter.

However, Turkey’s approval to deploy a radar system of the US-supported NATO Missile Defense System on its soil is understood to have played an important role in Washington’s agreement to in principle transfer the software source codes of mainly the weapons systems of the F-16s to Turkey.

Turkey agreed last month to host a powerful US-supplied radar system to act as advanced eyes for a layered shield against ballistic missiles coming from outside Europe.

The AN/TPY-2 surveillance radar in Turkey will boost the shield’s capability against Iran, which Washington alleges is seeking to build nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

“By agreeing to transfer information on F-16 weapon systems so that Turkey could automatically integrate them with national software source codes, the US sought to ease tensions with its NATO ally, which is important in safeguarding US interests in the Middle East. The US also puts strong emphasis on seeing Turkish-Israeli relations normalize,” said the US source.

50 weapons systems on each F-16

Lockheed Martin this year began supplying Turkey with 14 F-16C variants and 16 F-16Ds under a deal signed in May 2007. The total cost of 30 additional F-16s to Turkey is $1.78 billion.

Under a separate agreement signed in April 2005 between Turkey and the US, 213 Turkish F-16s are being upgraded at a cost of $1.1 billion at the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Ankara. Turkey will be able to change the software source codes of the weapons systems on a total of 204 F-16s with national software source codes if a final agreement is reached with the US.

There are 50 different types of weapons systems on each F-16 that are classified.

(Todays Zaman)

02 Juli 2011



Type 209 submarine of the Turkish Navy (photo : Submarinegallery)



Indonesia is expected to shake hands with Turkey soon on the production of two submarines, a Turkish Ministry of Defense official has told Today's Zaman.



Speaking on condition of anonymity in line with the ministry's policy, the source said bilateral talks were launched between the two allies when Indonesia made Turkey the offer because of “recent notable improvements in the Turkish shipbuilding industry as well as Turkey's constructive foreign policy approach.” Those talks, according to the official, have proven “very productive” and “the deal is very close.”



Once the expected deal between the two states is signed, Turkish defense firm Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş. (STM) will partner with German Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW) for the construction of two Type 209 submarines for Indonesian naval forces in the Gölcük shipyard in northwestern Turkey.



The Type 209 diesel-electric attack submarines are also used by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and can reach a speed of 11 knots (20 kilometers/hour) at the surface and up to 22.5 knots when submerged. They are armed with eight bow 533 millimeter torpedo tubes and 14 torpedoes. They can carry 38 staff onboard.



The official also expressed hope that Turkey could receive more and bigger defense orders from overseas as it continues to improve its production capacity. Presently, Turkey has one defense industry exports office in Washington, D.C., and plans to open three more offices in Belgium and Qatar as well as in either Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan.



(Todays Zaman)

30 Maret 2011

FNSS ACV armored vehicle (photo : Greenbd)

Turkey targets Indonesia, Malaysia for defense exports

Eyeing to expand in new markets, Turkish defense industry focuses on Indonesia and Malaysia. FNSS, a producer largely owned by Turkish company Nurol, is to sell armored vehicles worth between $300 million and $400 million to the Indonesian Army initially as part of a broader industry relation. The military electronics firm Aselsan also is planned to cooperate with the Asian country on wireless devices and other electronic equipment.

In an effort to cement its position as a major exporter of armored vehicles and other defense equipment, Turkey has chosen the southeastern Asian nations of Indonesia and Malaysia as two key target countries.

Shortly before a planned visit by President Abdullah Gül to Indonesia in early April, senior Turkish procurement officials in mid-March secured a number of defense industry deals, for which official cooperation agreements are scheduled to be signed during the visit.

“Indonesia and Malaysia are two countries with which we really want and hope to greatly boost our defense industry relations,” said a senior procurement official.

Roketsan T122 Sakarya multiple launch rocket system (photo : TurkMilitary)

Indonesia

A first cooperation package with Indonesia is expected to cover the sale and joint production of armored vehicles, wireless devices and rockets. The value of this first package would be between $300 million and $400 million, the Turkish procurement official said.

The Ankara-based armored vehicle manufacturer FNSS, a joint venture between Turkey's Nurol Holding and BAE, is expected to provide the Indonesian Army with tracked armored combat vehicles. FNSS' majority shares belong to Nurol.

Aselsan, a top military electronics company and Turkey's largest defense firm, is planned to cooperate with Indonesia on wireless devices and other electronic equipment. Roketsan, Turkey's top company specializing in rockets and missiles, is expected to sell rockets to Indonesia.

"After this first cooperation package, a second package is envisioned, and it may cover joint production of naval vessels and the modernization of Indonesia's [older] F-16 fighter aircraft by our TAI [Turkish Aerospace Industries]," said the Turkish procurement official.

TAI, which in the 1990s assembled more than 200 F-16s for the Turkish Air Force, in recent years has modernized or is modernizing Jordan's and Pakistan's older F-16s with the permission of Lockheed Martin, the aircraft's original maker. TAI also is contributing to the production of the U.S.-led F-35.

Malaysia

With Malaysia, FNSS signed the largest single Turkish export deal in history, during a visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to Ankara in late February.

FNSS signed the $600 million export agreement with Malaysia's Deftech for the design, development, production and logistical support of 257 Pars 8x8 wheeled armored combat vehicles for the Malaysian armed forces. FNSS earlier sold tracked armored vehicles to Malaysia.

"We have a solid cooperation base with Malaysia. In the near future, we plan to work on naval vessels and some other defense equipment with that country," the Turkish procurement official said.

"Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia are all predominantly Muslim countries, but religion does not play a role in Turkish efforts for arms sales to those nations," said one defense analyst based here.

Separately, Turkey also seeks to modernize the older F-16s of Thailand, another South Asian country.

Turkey's defense industry exports greatly have improved in recent years, up from only some $250 million a year five years ago. The SSM is eyeing the export of defense equipment worth nearly $1.5 billion this year, up from $832 million in 2009. The 2010 figure has not been announced yet.

(HurriyetDailyNews)