The Turkish defense industry, which showed its quality in Qatar with the High Tech Port by MÜSİAD, has signed various important deals, one of which is the production of Coast Guard boats. Ares Tersanecilik has signed a deal to use ASELSAN's weapon systems for the 17 coast security boats it will manufacture for Qatar. Deputy Manager of Ares Tersanecilik Kerim Kalafatoğlu said that they have signed a five-year deal included as part of the project for Qatar's Ministry of Internal Affairs, Coast Guard Commandership and have preferred ASELSAN's weapon systems for the boats. "We are pleased to cooperate with a national supplier for the boats," said Kalafatoğlu.
Deputy Undersecretariat of Defense Industry Celal Sami Tüfekçi also stated that the union between the two companies would bring more exports and is also important for national companies to take part in foreign investments. Highlighting that the weapon systems to be installed on the coast security boats of Ares Tersanecilik are one of the most advanced weapon systems in the world, Tüfekçi added that the company has proven itself with its international sales. Tüfekçi also said that many job opportunities will be opened in Qatar with this project.
ASELSAN General Manager Faik Eken also said that they will be cooperating with Ares Tersanecilik for supplying the requirements of Qatar Coast Guard Commandership and that they are aiming to offer better solutions to users in Qatar. He also said that the stabilized weapon systems of ASELSAN are already being used in various countries in the Gulf region and that with this project the number of their solutions in Qatar will increase and the Coast Guard Commandership will become one of their customers.
Eken offered insights into their trade volume. Stating that the company sold high technology devices and systems to 50 countries including, the U.S, the Netherlands, Uruguay, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia, Eren said ASELSAN made an annual turnover of $1.26 billion last year. He also added that $211 million of their turnover was the result of export operations. Eken said their products are currently used by Qatar's military forces and continued, "The Qatar Naval Forces have recently purchased 12.7 millimeters Stabilized Machine Gun Platform (STAMP), and 30 millimeters Stabilized Canon System. ASELSAN once again proved that it is a dependable solution partner of the Qatar Military Forces with its communication and stabilized armed systems as well as border strategic facility security, radar and electronic war systems."
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül continued talks in Qatar on the second day of the 19th International Business Forum, which is being simultaneously held with the High Tech Port by MÜSİAD at Qatar's International Fair Center in Doha, Gönül said the Defense Ministry allocated an annual budget of TL 5 million to research in the past and this figure was increased to TL 600 million on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's order. Turkish defense producer ROKETSAN could not receive technology from any country, he said, adding that the issue was handled in another way. Gönül said that the company also failed to learn by practicing as a part of joint production with other countries, and continued: "The most practiced implementation in China and even Japan is reverse engineering. Today, most of the technology in military companies is achieved thanks to offset, which means the stipulation of the purchase of industrial products in return for a country's purchases of other products from another country. If offset is practiced by 50 percent in Turkey, the business volumes of business people might soar by 50 percent."
