A model of Sefine’s new Constellation Class USV on display at DIMDEX. (Agnes Helou/Staff)
DIMDEX 2022: More than 30 Turkish defense firms attended this week’s Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference, clearly highlighting the close defense ties between the two countries.
That Turkey would have such a strong presence it’s a surprise; Qatar and Turkey’s military ties go back years, and Qatar operates several Turkish designs, including the s including the Nurol Makina Yalcin 4X4 vehicle, which was on display with Qatari armed forces tags during the show. Qatar also operates Bayraktar TB2 drones, made famous in the last month for their role in Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
Even so, it was impossible not to take note of just how strong the Turkish presence was, out-pacing any other nation’s products on the show floor. The companies also came with a number of designs being revealed for the first time, a sign of how Turkish firms view the Qatari market.
Turkish companies of different defense specializations participated in the show, with large-scale replicas or actual production units of their biggest wares in attendance. Companies included electronics firms like Aselsan and Havelsan, shipyards like Ares, Dersan and Dearsan, vehicle makers like BMC and Nurol Makina, aerospace firms like Turkish Aerospace Industries, engineering specialized companies like STM, and missile producing company Roketsan.
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During the show, Aselsan signed a contract and letter of intent with Barzan Maintenance Shield for spare parts, training and technical support for maintenance and repair activities on Aselsan systems fitted onto the fighting and armored vehicles currently in service of the Qatar Armed Forces. It will also support maritime systems currently in use from Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior.
The company is also establishing an MRO Center in Qatar which is dedicated to carry out maintenance, repair, overhaul, training and technical operations. On display at the show was Aselsan’s Centennial naval command and control system, with an interactive simulation of countering a guided missile.
Dearsan unveiled two ship models for the first time, the Frigate 142 and unmanned surface vessel USV 15. F-142 is a 142 m long frigate design based on a corvette class vessel. The company is still developing the frigate but expects the development stages to be done in two years’ time, when the shipyard will start building them.
USV is an unmanned surface vessel, 15 meter long with a maximum speed up to 50 knots. Its range is about 400 nautical miles and has two control options: satellite control for beyond line of sight, or by ground stations. The USV has a telescopic antenna and is under testing now. The company has built a prototype present in its shipyard and expects to start live fire demonstrations by May of this year.
STM used the show to unveil its Muti Purpose Attacking Craft, or MPAC, model while also showing off its fixed wing autonomous tactical attack UAV Alpagu, rotary wing attack UAV Kargu, the autonomous multi-rotor reconnaissance drone Togan, and cyber security capabilities.
Sefine Shipyard brought a scale model of its Constellation Class unmanned surface vessel, an autonomous anti-surface warfare fast attack vehicle with guided missiles. Developed for the Turkish navy, company representatives told Breaking Defense that the configuration of the platform is not fixed, since the model showcased comprised wings (that can be eliminated) and that can hold different types of launchers.
The company is developing swarming capabilities for the constellation class USV and expects to be able to control six to twelve unmanned vessels sailing in a swarm.
On the last day of DIMDEX, Turkey’s Yonca-Onuk shipyard signed an MoU with Qatar’s Joint Special Forces Command to produce four fast missile craft known as the MRTP 24/P.
From its side Qatar University signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkish Aerospace to strengthen their cooperation in research and engineering. The agreement will allow recruiting more engineers from Qatar in the company, where they would help the organization develop technology and, notably, work on Turkey’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter efforts, according to a press release.
Hurkus trainer mockup and TAI T625 Gökbey helicopter were also exhibited during the show at the Turkish Aerospace stand.
Ares Shipyard and Meteksan Defense unveiled models for two variants of unnamed armed surface vehicle, known as the ULAQ, at the show. Models of ULAQ PSV, Port Security Variant and ULAQ ASW anti-submarine warfare also made their official debut in Doha. The cooperation around the ASW variant was announced in 2021, with the mockup design making its first trade show appearance here.
Meteksan has also unveiled its Pelikan missile seeker simulator mockup at the show. The simulator was delivered to the Turkish army in 2017 and has participated in NATO electronic warfare trials in Antalya.
