Summary: Turkey is set to increase its defence procurement budget following new aircraft deals agreed with the USA and an improving industrial relationship with Pakistan.
According to Turkey’s defence procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), the country is planning to buy four more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from the US in addition to the two already ordered.
The procurement is part of a plan to eventually buy a total of 100 new generation F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.
SSM said the procurement committee had also decided to place an order for five Chinook transport helicopters.
Turkish defence procurement partnerships
The new procurements are continuing Turkey’s recent trend of continued investment and expenditure. In addition to deals with the US, Turkey has sought to strengthen its industrial relationship with Pakistan, including the announcement of more bilateral projects being promoted in aircraft, ships, tanks and other vehicles.
The latest agreement between the two nations was signed between Pakistan’s Heavy Industries Taxila and Turkey’s Nurol Technologies at the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar 2014 in December 2014.
Heavy Industries Taxila already cooperates with other Turkish companies in defence and electronics. The new deal allows the transfer of technology between the two firms to assist in the construction of armoured vehicles.
Turkey also announced in 2013 that it was entering negotiations with China to acquire its first long-range anti-missile systems.
With further Turkish expenditure in defence expected and more partnerships being agreed with the US, Pakistan and China, Turkey could be set to become a major player in the defence market in coming years.
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