Multiple agreements signed at international defense fair in Istanbul

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - A number of defense agreements were signed Wednesday at one of the world’s largest defense industry fairs which is being held in Istanbul, Turkey.

The four-day 15th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) began Tuesday under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, hosted by the Turkish National Defense Ministry and organized by Turkey's largest fair firm Tuyap under the management and responsibility of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation.

Turkey’s ULAK Communication Inc. and the Ankara Aerospace-Specialized Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ) signed a protocol for a communication project for campuses.

Ismail Demir, head of the Turkish Defense Industries Presidency (SSB), said during the signing ceremony that the importance of communications increases day by day.

The country's communication systems and infrastructure should be smart, controllable, manageable and flexible, he added.

Leading software and systems company Havelsan and the Turkish Coast Guard Command signed an agreement to create a network system for the command.

Havelsan also signed an agreement with the SSB for augmented reality projects.

Demir said that augmented reality has become a necessity in the field in today's combat environment.

For creating an entrepreneurship ecosystem, Teknopark Istanbul, a technology development zone established next to Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, and Turkish defense and aviation giants Aselsan, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Roketsan, Havelsan, Turkish Engine Industries (TEI) and BMC signed a protocol called the "Strategic Solution Partnership."

Within the framework of the program, cooperation, innovation and entrepreneurship activities will be supported.

Teknopark Istanbul and the SSB also signed another protocol called the "Cyber Security Acceleration and Incubation Program."

Qatar’s Barzan Maintenance Shield QTSP LLC and Turkey's Havelsan also signed a purchase contract.

Havelsan will provide maintenance, repair and management services for several military devices in Qatar for 36 months.

Turkish defense firms STM and Nurol Makina also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for armored vehicles' integration activities.

- TUBITAK

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) also signed several agreements during the event.

TUBITAK signed a cooperation protocol with Asis Elektronik for the latest laser technologies and a project contract with Aspilsan for lithium-ion battery technologies.

TUBITAK and TRTEST meanwhile signed a contract for test services.

The council also signed agreements with the SSB, Aselsan, Asfat and TAI in several fields.

On Tuesday, there were also agreements signed between defense companies such as Aselsan and Armelsan.