The Gulf Defense and Aerospace Exhibition, which has attracted extensive participation from Turkish defense industry companies that want to increase cooperation and market opportunities in the Gulf region, began yesterday and is due to close on Dec. 14.

Many companies from 20 countries are participating in the exhibition organized at the Kuwait Exhibition Center. At the exhibition, the event's host, Kuwait, is also displaying its defense industry technology and capabilities.

Turkey provides national participation with 23 companies and the Defense and Aerospace Industry Exporters Association under the coordination of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM). The Turkish delegation is headed by SMM Deputy Undersecretary Mustafa Şeker.

At the exhibition, 3E EOS, AKSA, ASELSAN, AVS, BMC, FNSS, Garanti, Güçlü Makina, HAVELSAN, HTR, İŞBİR, Katmerciler, M-D2, Milsoft, Nurol Makina, Otokar, SDT, Simsoft, Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A Ş. (STM), TAIS, TRANSVARO, UNIFO and Yonca-Onuk will present their products and services.

Defense industry companies recently produced land and naval platforms, weapons and imaging systems and software-based solutions are attracting interest at the exhibition.

They hope to develop and deepen the potential for cooperation between Turkish defense companies and Kuwait with new projects.

During the course of the exhibition, talks will be held with participating senior officials, particularly with Kuwait's top military officials, on the development of cooperation in the defense industry.

Turkish firms have undertaken successful projects with Kuwait in recent years, especially on land platforms. The vehicles produced by Otokar and Nurol Makina are used by Kuwait's security forces.

The Kuwait Defense and Aerospace Exhibition features a number of products manufactured by Turkish companies this year.Nurol Makina is participating in the event with its Ejder TOMA and 4x4 armored combat vehicle Ejder Yalçın. BMC is displaying its new KIRPI mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles and Katmerciler is showcasing its developments in land vehicles with its HIZIR tactical wheeled vehicle and Khan armored personnel carrier. FNSS is promoting its armored land vehicles and modernization.

ASELSAN is exhibiting products such as Sarp, Stamp weapon systems, Anti-UAV Defense System (AUDS) and radio systems.

At STM's stand, there is MILGEM (National Warship) project, Submarine Defensive Warfare (DSH) and Patrol Boat project and the rotary wing kamikaze KARGU .

HAVELSAN is demonstrating Electronic Warfare Testing and Training Range (EWTTR), the application that allows immediate communication of military personnel on the field, and the Quantum3D image generator.

SDT is displaying electronic warfare products with simulation and training systems, with mission systems in particular.

Simsoft is exhibiting its land and naval vehicle simulator systems, armored vehicle driving and shooting simulators and border security tactical game simulations.Otokar, which continues to strengthen its presence in the Gulf region, is exhibiting the Arma 6x6 and Cobra II 4x4 tactical wheeled armored vehicles, which are actively used in the region, accompanied by their Bozok and Keskin tower systems.

Otokar General Manager Serdar Görgüç said in a statement that the Gulf is among Otokar's target markets. Explaining that their military vehicles serve in the Gulf region, Görgüç recalled that with Otokar Land Systems established in United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2016, they aimed to strengthen their international cooperation, especially in the Gulf, open up to new markets and increase sales. "Our first step in this goal was a contract signed by Al Jasoor, which was established in partnership with Tawazun, to meet the needs of the UAE army, achieving one of the world's largest 8x8 armored vehicle purchases," he added.

Görgüç said that they are quite aware of the needs and conditions of the region. "Regional exhibitions offer significant opportunities for us to come together with our current and potential users," Görgüç continued. "The experience and knowledge we have gained through our armored vehicles serving in the region, including Kuwait, create opportunities for us to develop products tailored to user expectations and export new types of vehicles."

Otokar is displaying the COBRA II, which is an ideal platform with high protection, firepower and task equipment as well as superior mobility, together with Otokar's KESKIN weapon tower. The COBRA II is currently being used by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and internal security forces, as well as the U.N. for overseas missions. The COBRA II, which provides superior performance in the most demanding terrain and climate conditions, also has an amphibious version.