Türkiye has inducted its fourth T-70 utility helicopter into the Air Force Command in Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) configuration, bringing the total number of aircraft delivered under the Turkish Utility Helicopter Programme (TUHP) to 31 across the armed forces and security agencies. When Turkey launched its ambitious Turkish Utility Helicopter Programme (TUHP), the vision... Continue Reading →
This is my sixth and final instalment regarding IDEF 2025. I have been attending these defence exhibitions since 1987, when they were still called IDEA and organised in Etimesgut, Ankara. Much has changed since those days. With the benefit of hindsight, I can say that the Turkish defence industry has now reached a plateau. It... Continue Reading →
IDEF 2025 Series – Instalment 5. Independence in the defence industry is a long and winding road. It is not cheap. And on top of it all, you can lose it very quickly. I’m old enough to remember that the second project Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) undertook in the late 1980s was the licensed production... Continue Reading →
IDEF 2025 Series – Instalment 4 One of the lesser-highlighted contracts signed during IDEF 2025—but one I personally find significant—is the agreement to procure four large patrol vessels for the Turkish Coast Guard. While this contract may not have captured as much public attention as headline-grabbing deals like the export of the KAAN fighter jet... Continue Reading →
IDEF 2025 Series – Instalment 3 One of the more interesting announcements at IDEF 2025 wasn’t about a new missile or a shiny prototype—it was about branding. The transformation of the ULAQ unmanned surface vessel (USV) program into an independent company marks a notable, if somewhat predictable, shift in Turkey’s defense industry landscape. The ULAQ... Continue Reading →
Scoring at Sea: Koç Bilgi ve Savunma’s Underwater Precision Tech I must admit, I felt a twinge of nostalgia when I saw the Koç Bilgi ve Savunma booth at IDEF 2025. It’s been more than 15 years since I worked for the Koç Group, but the name still triggers memories—some fond, some mixed, as is... Continue Reading →
Held biennially in Istanbul, the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) has grown into one of the world's leading defence exhibitions—and a strategic stage for Turkey to showcase its expanding military-industrial capabilities. As the 2025 edition is now complete, I have the time to launch a multi-part series that takes a closer look at the things... Continue Reading →
This is the third and final part of my series examining Türkiye’s emerging ambition to build and operate nuclear-powered submarines. In Part 1, I explored why Türkiye wants this capability. Part 2 analyzed what it would take to achieve it. Now, I look at what it would cost—not just in monetary terms, but also politically... Continue Reading →
This is the second part of my series on Türkiye’s newly declared ambition to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. In Part 1, I discussed why Türkiye believes it needs this capability. In this instalment, I explore what it would take—from nuclear technology and shipbuilding infrastructure to international cooperation and human capital. Following the Turkish Navy’s newly stated... Continue Reading →
I recently conducted an interview with the Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu. The two-part interview is being published in Warship International Fleet Review Magazine. To read it in full, you'll need to access the magazine. One of the most significant revelations from the interview, in my view, is how the future... Continue Reading →
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