Turkish Advancement in Defence Technology.

(Dr.Syed Mehboob, Karachi)

Turkiye is one of the most important countries in Islamic world and is emerging regional and global power. Its defence and weapon system is one of the best in the world. Turkish armed forces are also one of the best in the world. They are well trained, highly professional, equipped with modern technology, Islamic as well as patriotic spirit. Its armed forces proved its high level of professionalism and received acclaim from the world.

Turkish Armed Forces consist of the General Staff, The Land Force, and Naval Force. The General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces is the highest staff organization in Turkiye. Turkiye has second largest standing military force in NATO after USA and with an estimated 900,000 regular and reserve personnel. Turkiye has participated in many international missions including UNO peacekeeping forces where they have proved their capabilities very well.

Turkiye will allocate more than US$ 40 billion to its defence budget in 2024, making a 150% increase from 2023 budget. In 2023, Turkiye allocated around US$ 16 billion for defence and security. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is commander in Chief of Armed Forces, Mr. Yaser Guler is the Minister of National Defence. Chief of the General Staff is Metin Gurak.

In recent years specially, after Russia Ukraine war the demand of drone increased and more and more buyers are now approaching to Turkiye. Its flagship Bayraktar TB2 drone has proven effective on battlefields in Libya, Nagorno Karabakh and elsewhere; it generally cost less and performs better than rival models. Drone sales are increasingly important for the growth of the Turkish defence abroad. Turkiye has recently unveiled the latest and deadliest Army Tactical Missile system (ATACMS) in 2024. The news ATACMS is a product of the new extensive research and development. Efforts, highlighting Turkiye’s dedication to staying at forefront of technological advancement in the defence sector. The latest ACMS missile boasts a significantly extended range, enabling Turkish forces to strike targets with unprecedented precision from even greatest distance. The missile is equipped state of the art precision guidance systems, ensuring pinpoint accuracy in hitting intended targets. This capability minimizes collateral damage and allows surgical strikes both conventional and strategic operations. The sophistication of the ATACMS missile lies in its meticulous design, cutting edge technology and the integration of modern weaponry. The ATACMS missiles design emphasis adaptability and versatility, making it suitable for a range of mission profiles whether employed in conventional warfare, counter terrorism operation, or as deterrent, the missile can be tailored to meet the evolving demands of modern military strategy. The ATACMS missile ensures enhanced lethality against a variety of targets. The incorporation of cutting-edge materials and explosive maximizes the impact on designated objectives for their solidifying Turkiye’s deterrent capabilities. The hallmark of the ATACMS missile’s sophistication is its precision guidance system. Employing a combination of GPS, inertial navigation, and advanced targeting algorithms, the missile can navigate complex terrain and strike targets with pinpoint accuracy the enhancing of Turkiye’s deadliest ATACMS missile in 2024 carrying significant strategic implications, not only for the nation itself but also for the broader geopolitical landscape. This technological leap positions Turkiye as a formidable player in the global defence arena, fostering a sense of security among its allies while undoubtedly influencing potential adversaries. Turkiye continues to invest in its defence capabilities the news ATACMS missile underscores the nations commitment to maintaining a credible deterrent and protecting its national interests. The geopolitical balance in the region is likely to be reshaped, prompting a reassessment at defence strategies by neighboring countries.

Turkiye’s unveiling of the deadliest ATACMS missiles in 2024 is a testament to the nation’s dedication to advancing its defence capabilities. This technological achievement not only strengthens Turkiye’s position in the global defence landscape but also serves as a symbol of its commitment safeguarding its sovereignty and interests. Turkiye’s ATACMS stands as a testament to the nation’s commitment to technological innovations and military excellence. The sophistication embedded in the missiles design from precision guidance to adaptive targeting capabilities showcases Turkiye’s dedication to staying at the forefront of modern warfronts of modern warfare as a potent symbol of technological triumph, the ATACMS missile not only enhanced Turkiye’s defence capabilities but also contributes to the global discourse on the evolving nature of military technology. In an era where innovation defines military superiority, Turkiye’s ATACMS missile stands as shining example of sophistication and strategic foresight unparalleled range the missile is engineered to cover vast range and accuracy. Ankara, surprised at and proud of this success, sees drone sales as increasingly important for the growth of the Turkish defence industry. They may also be a tool for expanding Turkish influence abroad.

Drones, also known as un-crewed or unmanned combat aerial vehicles or UCAVs, have been around for decades. They are aircraft that can be remotely operated by pilots on the ground, either nearby or a continent away, or can be programmed to be autonomous. First used for surveillance, they made headlines when the United States began using them to fire missiles at targets in Afghanistan and elsewhere, often in connection with the so-called global war on terror, in the early 2000s. Since then, the technology has forged ahead and costs have dropped, making drones an attractive tool for countries that want to project airpower but are resource-constrained. New manufacturers like Turkiye, a NATO member, as well as China and Iran, have entered a market once dominated by the U.S., Israel and Russia. The variety of drones on the market caters to a wide range of functions – surveillance, intelligence gathering, border security and the use of force – and allows actors to engage in combat in remote locations without placing operators at immediate risk. Although proponents argue that the technology allows actors to engage in more surgical combat than, for example, ground incursions, the record is littered with strikes. Like artificial intelligence, drone technology is developing by leaps and bounds, outpacing faltering attempts to regulate it. Drones can fire missiles, bombs and guided rockets. Smaller ones can be used as weapons themselves, programmed to explode upon striking a target in a one-off “suicide” or “kamikaze” mission. Once closely associated with U.S. counter-terrorism efforts, the use of drones is proliferating, bringing with it novel practical and ethical dilemmas, including over potential autonomous drone missions.

Turkey’s young, mainly private-sector drone industry has developed with great speed and commercial success. By 20 December, according to Crisis Group’s open-source tracking, at least 26 states had Turkish drones in their arsenals, seven were awaiting delivery and eight more had expressed interest in making a purchase. Selcuk Bayraktar, the CEO of Baykar Technologies, the largest manufacturer, said in early December that it had exported armed drones to a total of 33 countries. Most in demand is the Bayraktar TB2 model produced by Baykar. The company is run by two brothers, one of whom is a son-in-law of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Overall, Turkiye’s defence export revenues have been gradually increasing, seemingly driven in part by the sale of drones and related materiel. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in 2022, while the revenues of Western arms manufacturers on average shrank, major Turkish defence companies’ revenues went up by 22 per cent compared to the previous year. A Turkish defence analyst disclosed that he estimated that drones and related ammunitions made up about one fourth of those revenues. At a time when the general economy was ailing, drone exports have helped the defence industry keep growing. Demand for drones has mounted in large part because Turkish drones are often cheaper than competitors’ products. International experts credited the TB2s with effectively bolstering many countries defence. In Libya, Turkiye supplied drones to the UN-recognised government, which used them in 2020 to defend the capital Tripoli from Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, a warlord who controls the east of the country. When Azerbaijan and Armenia battled for control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions in 2020, drones and other materiel that Ankara supplied helped Azerbaijan recapture much of the territory it had lost to Armenian control in the 1990s. TB2s were in operation again when Azerbaijan retook full control of the enclave in September. The TB2 falls into the mid-range category of armed drones known as Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance, or MALE (High-Altitude Long-Endurance drones go by the acronym HALE). TB2s cost around $5 million, compared to an estimated US$ 20 million per unit for the leading U.S.-made armed drone model, the MQ-9 Reaper. Buyers can thus better afford to use them on riskier operations where they might be shot down. This price/performance ratio gives Turkiye an edge in the market. Customers for Turkish drones include Ankara’s NATO allies in Europe, Arab countries in the Gulf and North Africa, sub-Saharan African countries, and others.

TB2s, first used by the Turkish military in 2014, had flown over750,000 by the end of 2023, generating vast amounts of data. Turkish companies also export other high-end armed drones like the Akıncı and Aksungur models, which – compared to the TB2 – can fly higher, longer and carry a bigger payload of ammunition. Turkiye aims to expand its share in this budding industry with new systems, like the more advanced Bayraktar TB3 drone and other un-crewed delivery systems, such as Kizilema fighter aircraft and bomb-laden boats that can launch “suicide” missions against targets at sea. Drone exports are a source not just of export revenue but of national pride. Most of the companies that first benefited from the 2004 investments are among the top drone producers today. By late 2023, Baykar employed more than 3,600 people and had become the top defence and aerospace exporter. With its bolstered capacity, as of September 2022, it could produce over 200 TB2 per year. At the close of 2023, Baykar said it had churned out over 500 TB2s. Among other leading manufacturers, TAI TAI TUSAS and Lentatek also produced advanced Male Typed armed drones, with STM and Asisguard produce smaller , “ tactical “ drones. STM produces “suicide” drones designed to crash into a target and explode.

Turkish achievements are not only a matter of pride for Turkish nation but also a matter of pride for whole Muslim ummah specially for Pakistan and its people who love Turkiye and consider it as their brother, close and trusted friend and wish for the brother country so many other success.
Dr.Syed Mehboob
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