Presidency of Defense Industries

Turkey has delivered two ATAK helicopters, a twin-engine air vehicle developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), to the Philippines, the head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) has announced, marking the first delivery to a foreign country.

Turkey's largest defense companies will showcase their products at another international fair, this time in Chile.

Aselsan, Aspilsan, Havelsan, Nurol, Otokar, Repkon, Roketsan, Tisaş, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ, and Canik will take part in the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE), which will take place between April 5 and April 10 in Chile's capital Santiago.

Turkey has promoted the establishment of a "cyber security cluster," made up of local companies that produce software and hardware, aiming to make indigenous products dominant in the country, head of the defense industries presidency said.

Following Turkey's suspension from the F-35 fighter jet program by the United States, Ankara is aiming to seek its legal rights in cooperation with the American firms that incurred losses or suffered an additional burden in the project's production phase, the head of Turkey's top defense procurement and development body said on March 11.

The United States highly values its ties with Turkey as a strategic ally, and these relations are important for both sides, the U.S. ambassador to Ankara said on Feb. 5.

Turkey and the United States have formed a joint working group to discuss sanctions that Washington imposed on its ally over its purchase of an advanced Russian air defense system, Turkey's foreign minister said Wednesday.

Turkish companies continue to produce parts of the F-35 fighter jets despite being removed from the program, the head of Turkey's top defense procurement and development body has said.

American sanctions on Turkey's top defense procurement and development body Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) for purchasing Russian defense systems will not affect "current, valid, non-exhausted licenses and authorizations," the US State Department has said.

A Turkish defense official sanctioned by the United States says bilateral relations will not be affected despite the Trump administration's decision to finally punish Turkey for its purchase of a Russian air defense system.

Ismail Demir, the head of Turkey's military procurement agency, emphasized that Turkey and the US are NATO allies who will continue working together.

Turkish Foreign Ministry on Dec. 14 said that U.S. sanctions will harm ties, adding that Ankara will retaliate as necessary.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Dec. 14 imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.