Turkish producer to supply aerostat systems to Iraq

ANKARA—Otonom Teknoloji, a privately owned Turkish defense technology company, has said it signed a deal with the Iraqi government for supplying aerostat and airship systems.

The firm said on Oct. 17 that the deal would also involve technological know-how transfer and co-production options in the future. No financial details of the sale were disclosed.

Otonom Teknoloji produces several different airborne surveillance platforms, including the Tepegöz unmanned airship and the Doruk “water-drop shaped aerostat,” according to its website. These systems come in three different specifications for tactical, operative and strategic missions.

The Doruk can operate at up to 1,500 meters of altitude and carry up to 500 kg payload; the Tepegöz can fly up to 3,000 meters high. The aerostat can perform uninterrupted operations for up to one week.

Otonom Teknoloji says it developed its aerostat systems for port security, critical facility protection, reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence and communications missions.

An official Turkish defense procurement delegation visited Baghdad on Oct. 2. After the visit, Iraqi officials said they would discuss the acquisition of Turkish-made TB-2 armed drone systems, T129 attack helicopters and electronic warfare systems.

Burak Ege Bekdil was the Turkey correspondent for Defense News.

安卡拉——土耳其私营国防技术公司 Otonom Teknoloji 表示，该公司已与伊拉克政府签署协议，向其提供系留气球和飞艇系统。

该公司于10月17日表示，该交易还将涉及技术诀窍转让和未来的合作生产选项。但未披露此次交易的财务细节。

据其官网介绍，Otonom Teknoloji公司生产多种不同的空中监视平台，包括Tepegöz无人飞艇和Doruk“水滴形系留气球”。这些系统有三种不同的规格，分别用于战术、作战和战略任务。

多鲁克号飞行器可在高达1500米的高度运行，并可携带高达500公斤的有效载荷；特佩戈兹号飞行器则可飞行至高达3000米的高度。该系留气球可连续运行长达一周。

Otonom Teknoloji 公司表示，其开发的系留气球系统用于港口安全、关键设施保护、侦察、监视、情报和通信任务。

10月2日，土耳其国防采购代表团访问了巴格达。访问结束后，伊拉克官员表示，他们将讨论采购土耳其制造的TB-2武装无人机系统、T129攻击直升机和电子战系统。

布拉克·埃格·贝克迪尔是《防务新闻》的土耳其记者。