Noting that they aim to become a Turkey that is the center of high-tech products developed and produced by Turkish engineers with domestic and national means, Mustafa Varank, Minister of Industry and Technology, said, “ASELSAN Sivas has contributed 100 million dollars to our defense industry ecosystem with the steps it has taken in line with this goal. He undersigned valuable R&D studies in order to localize the technologies he uses.” said.
Minister Varank, in his speech at the 5th Anniversary Program of ASELSAN Sivas, drew attention to the fact that ASELSAN Sivas, which was established 5 years ago as a public-private partnership, has become a leading company capable of mass production in optical components and electro-optical devices. Emphasizing the importance of being an entrepreneur, producing and creating employment, Varank explained that they are working in line with the vision of the "National Technology Move" under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
CENTER OF HIGH-TECH PRODUCTS
Underlining that they aim to become a Turkey that is the center of high-tech products developed and produced by Turkish engineers with domestic and national resources, Minister Varank said, “ASELSAN Sivas has contributed 100 million dollars to our defense industry ecosystem with the steps it has taken in line with this goal. It has carried out valuable R&D studies in order to localize the technologies it uses. Having its own R&D center and design office, the company delivered critical products to our security forces in a short period of 5 years. 40 thousand day vision scopes, 25 thousand night vision scopes, 30 thousand reflex sights and 2 thousand sniper scopes are just some of them. Again, over 2 very sensitive continuous focus thermal camera lenses can be produced here. Many critical technologies such as Optical Lithography, Laser Optical and Band Pass filter were developed here. More than 500 precision optical products can be produced in ASELSAN Sivas.” used his statements.
ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICE AND LENS PRODUCTION
Emphasizing that almost all of the products produced are exported in certain quantities, Varank explained that the products with the "Made In Turkey" stamp come from the center of Sivas and are used all over the world. Noting that they are determined to eliminate Turkey's dependence on foreign sources in the production of electro-optical devices and lenses, Varank said that for this reason, the engineering and production capabilities to be gained here are very valuable.
TELESCOPIC LENSES
Pointing out that Turkish engineers have developed value-added and innovative products at the Ministry-approved R&D Center, Varank said, “Pistol Reflex Sight family, Armored Vehicle Periscope family and Holographic Reflex Sight products came to the stage of mass production as a result of these activities. Now, we demand from our company that a critical product be run here. ASELSAN Sivas can also produce lenses for telescopes to be used in space. Let's give this task to them. By Allah's leave, when we produce it as well, we will be one of the rare countries that can produce this product.” he said.
3,5 BILLION TL SUPPORT
Noting that the amount of support provided to ASELSAN only within the scope of R&D Centers has approached 3,5 billion liras, Varank said, “We transferred 114 million liras to ASELSAN's 625 projects through TÜBİTAK. We have issued 9 incentive certificates for ASELSAN in 18 years, 3 of them for ASELSAN Sivas.” said.
LOCALITY IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY
Pointing to the importance of being local and having high technology in the defense industry, Varank said, “We see how those who talk about so-called justice ignore these concepts when it comes to their work, and how they take refuge in the embargo card. For this reason, we must be a strong country that can cut its own belly. We need to reach a 100 percent domestic defense industry that will guarantee Turkey's future and independence.” he said.
WE TRUST OUR YOUTH
Emphasizing that the number of employees in the defense industry, which was 2016 thousand in 35, has reached 80 thousand today, Varank said that this will increase even more in the coming years. “We trust our youth, we believe in them.” Varank said that they will always be with the young people.
Sivas Governor Salih Ayhan, AK Party Deputy Chairman Vedat Demiröz, AK Party Sivas Deputy and Parliamentary National Defense Commission Chairman İsmet Yılmaz, ASELSAN General Manager and Chairman of the Board Haluk Görgün and ASELSAN Sivas Founding Partner and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors Osman Yıldırım. made a speech.
After the speeches, a signing ceremony was held within the scope of İŞKUR On-the-Job Training Program. Later, a protocol was signed between ASELSAN Sivas and ESTAŞ regarding the Galvanometer Production R&D Project for Additive Manufacturing Machines.
Minister Varank also visited the stands of subcontractor companies in the event area.