ANKARA, Turkey — A renewed wave of clashes between Turkey’s security forces and autonomy-seeking Kurdish militants is reorienting reviving the country’s acquisition toward in line with asymmetrical warfare.
"Anti-terror gear has once again gained prominence in view of the terror attacks on our security forces," said one senior procurement official. Apparently, the terrorists built up explosive traps and planned these attacks during the cease-fire. This will be countered through new gear."
A military officer dealing with anti-terror said the military command already has notified the government of a need for urgent purchases of anti-terror equipment and systems.
The autonomy-seeking Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey, the European Union and the United States lists as a terrorist organization, has killed more than 60 security officials and injured hundreds as clashes have spiked spiralled after the PKK on July 11 ended a 29-month truce.
"Once again the priority tag in procurement moves away from conventional systems to systems designed to fight an asymmetrical warfare," said one Ankara-based defense analyst.
Turkey’s procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), said Aug. 21 that it would buy 15 new drones from the country’s top aerospace company, state-controlled Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and another . It said it also would buy 15 drones from a privately owned joint venture, Kale-Baykar.
Twelve of these planned drones are considered "urgent," SSM said. All 30 drones will be used by the anti-terror units of the Turkish police force.
TAI is maker of the Anka, a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone. In 2013 its Block A version was accepted by the Turkish military. TAI is working on the Anka S, which will have an indigenous drone with satellite communication capabilities. The Anka S will be delivered by 2017.
Kale-Baykar is maker of the Bayraktar, a tactical drone. In April 2014, the Bayraktar went through its first fully automatic flight test at a military airport in Kesan in northwestern Turkey. It flew for three hours at an altitude of 18,750 feet.
Then in June 2014, t The drone reached an altitude of 27,000 feet and flew for six-and-a-half hours in June 2014 [Kale-Baykar’s contract with the Turkish government requires an altitude of 18,000 feet.] And finally the drone flew at an altitude of 18,000 feet for 24.5 hours.
The Bayraktar features indigenous software and electronic systems, according to the producer. Its maximum take-off payload is 650 kilograms. Kale-Baykar claims that under the Bayraktar program, the consortium developed various critical systems in drone technology, including a flight control with three back-up systems, inertial navigation and GPS systems, static pilot system, power control unit, a lithium-based smart battery, aerial data recording computer, video link system, tail camera, ground control station and command and control software.
Military officials said that the Bayraktar would be a preferred solution, especially in anti-terror operations because of its "exceptional quietness."
Apart from drones, the Turkish military will need more an increasing number of mine-resistant vehicles as most of the PKK’s attacks involved since violence resumed were through IEDs.
Military officials said the standard armored personnel carriers, the Kobra, do not give troops sufficient protection. to troops as casualties have revealed. The Kobra is produced by the privately owned armored vehicles manufacturer Otokar.
Instead, the military is considering buying in larger quantities the Kirpi, a mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) armored vehicle. The Kirpi is produced by another privately owned company, BMC.
"We may consider buying [MRAP-type vehicles] off the shelf from foreign suppliers if the local company [BMC] cannot cope with this urgent demand," said one Army officer familiar with the land systems.
Under these conditions, Conventionally in days like that "systems like drones, armored vehicles of most types, attack helicopters and smart ammunition tend to gain prominence in procurement shopping lists," said the Ankara-based analyst. "This time will not be different."
Email: bbekdil@defensenews.com
Burak Ege Bekdil was the Turkey correspondent for Defense News.
