ANKARA — A newly announced $1.5 billion facility, dubbed the “single largest defense industry investment” in Turkey’s history, is expected to double the production capacity for components of Ankara’s envisioned Steel Dome national air defense system, according to officials at Aselsan, the electronics giant leading the project.
Reporters toured the in-development facility on Thursday, a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan participated in a ceremony here for the announcement of the facility and the delivery of some platforms to the military.
“This will also be the largest integrated air defense facility in Europe,” Erdoğan said. “As Aselsan serves as the heart of our defense ecosystem, this step represents a critical threshold for the entire sector.”
The facility, the Ogulbey Technology Base, is expected to become operational in one and a half years, company officials said.
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But well before that, Aselsan said it’s working to introduce Steel Dome components. During the tour, reporters saw 47 vehicle-based platforms set for delivery to the Turkish armed forces and all carrying Steel Dome-related tech with accompanying radars.
Missile and air defense systems to be delivered include long-range SIPER, medium-range HISAR, and very short-range KORKUT. ALP air surveillance and radars and PUHU communication and electronic warfare systems were among the deliveries too.
Inside the facility, which appeared similar to a very large warehouse, technicians were already at work in smaller individual sections, walled off but with windows. Small computer chips and Steel Dome defense models were displayed along the hallways.
In the outdoor section of the facility, a large sign marking 50 years since the founding of Aselsan hung above other full-sized Steel Dome systems. (Steel Dome, like Israel’s air defense system that includes its famed Iron Dome and like the envisioned American Golden Dome, is expected to be made up of several overlapping air defense, warning and communication systems.)
Breaking Defense, like other outlets, accepted travel and accommodation arranged by the Turkish government for the trip.
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Earlier this year, Aselsan received a $616 million investment from the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology to build out new facilities for the Steel Dome concept, but Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol said the company will get “additional incentives for this investment, totaling $1.5 billion.
Akyol assured that Steel Dome components are NATO-compatible.
“Turkey is the one of the key players in NATO. We have tested [and] delivered systems in NATO links and also national [Turkish] links, it is both possible,” he said.
In a July interview, Akyol told Breaking Defense that currently Steel Dome is Aselsan’s main “vision with the [Turkish] government,” but that doesn’t mean the firm has taken its eye off potential overseas exports of the defense tech.
“Separately some parts are exported, but as a concept, I think we need to have assessments with the countries, because of the territorial and geographical reasons countries can have different approach,” he said. “Some of them have maritime problems. Some of them have territorial problems. So it could be tailor-made solution for Steel Dome.”
Akyol said there was interest in Steel Dome “from the Gulf states and also Eastern Europe.”
Aselsan also inaugurated yesterday 14 production and R&D (research and development) facilities worth $280 million.
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Author: Agnes Helou
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