ANKARA — Turkish state-controlled military software company Havelsan has successfully developed four systems for the country’s submarines, the company has said.
These systems are: Submarine Defense Combat Firing Control System; Submarine Information Distribution System; Situational Target Movement Analysis capabilities; and Online Performance Analysis System.
Havelsan has applied for patent rights for all four systems.
"Unfortunately, our patent applications so far have been disproportionate with the level of [sub and other] technology we produced," said Ahmet Hamdi Atalay, Havelsan’s general manager. "We have been encouraging development programs that will be fit for patent rights. I predict a visible rise in our patent applications in the near future."
Havelsan last year invested about $30 million on its research and development programs.
Presently, the company is running two more submarine-related programs: Sonar Integrated Combat Management System and National Torpedo Firing Control System. It is also developing a communications software for a Turkish satellite being built by Istanbul Technical University.
An industry source said that the submarine systems Havelsan has been developing are traditionally imported systems made by western manufacturers. "If Havelsan's [submarine] programs, after integration, give a happy ending, Turkey would no more buy imported systems," he said.
Turkey launched the construction of six "new type" submarines under German license with initial deliveries scheduled for 2020.
The next-generation submarines would be locally designed, developed and constructed. Procurement officials have said the next order for the new-generation submarines would be an initial batch of six.
Last year, Havelsan acquired flight simulation assets made by US-based Quantum3D, a developer of visual computing solutions. Under the deal, Havelsan's US-based subsidiary will retain the intellectual property and product lines of Quantum3D.
Burak Ege Bekdil was the Turkey correspondent for Defense News.
