Drones, tanks and ships: Takeaways from Turkey’s annual defense report

ISTANBUL — Turkey’s Defence Ministry released its annual report on March 7, detailing activities it carried out in 2023 and its future goals.

The ministry listed 49 ongoing modernization and acquisition projects across the military. Here are some that stood out:

M60 tank: Two separate modernization projects are ongoing. The first will replace the existing fire control system with the new Volkan-M, as well as provide additional armor protection and protected crew seats to M60T tanks. The contract was signed in January 2023. The second bolsters the firepower, survivability and mobility of M60A3 tanks. Prototype development studies are continuing.

A Turkish M60 tank drives in the town of Sarmin, southeast of the city of Idlib in northwestern Syria, on Feb. 20, 2020. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images)

Leopard 2 A4 tank: The platform variant is undergoing modernization work through a contract signed in 2022 between the government’s defense program management agency SSB and local defense contractor BMC Otomotiv. Aselsan, another Turkish business, is providing the fire control systems; remote controlled weapon stations; command, control, communication and information systems; laser warning systems; driver vision systems; active protection systems; and close-range surveillance systems. BMC will integrate these systems into the tank and overhaul the chassis.

T-155 Firtina self-propelled howitzer: The next generation of the T-155 is under construction by BMC Otomotiv. The original contract covers the delivery of 130 units. As of the end of 2023, the company had delivered eight. BMC is also developing an engine for the weapon. Inspection and acceptance activities of the prototype engine concluded Feb. 24, 2023.

ACV-15 vehicle: Aselsan is modernizing the combat vehicle by providing the 25mm Nefer turret, among other systems. The Defence Ministry’s 2nd Main Maintenance Factory Directorate is conducting the repair and overhaul of the engine and the transmission of the vehicles.

Milden submarine project: The Naval Forces’ design office is working on the country’s first indigenous submarine program. Construction is to take place at Gölcük Shipyard Command. A test block is to undergo construction this year, and efforts to build the first submarine are scheduled to start in 2025.

Reis-class submarine program: Hizirreis, the second submarine of the Reis project, which includes the production of six submarines, began May 25, 2023. Gölcük Naval Shipyard is carrying out the work.

Preveze-class submarine: After integration and testing activities ended on the TCG Preveze submarine, which acted as a testbed for the early delivery of the systems, the Gölcük Naval Shipyard started midlife upgrades for the TCG Sakarya in July 2022. That platform is the first submarine to receive the modernization features, and work is ongoing. The plan is to modernize all Preveze-class subs during maintenance and overhaul periods until 2027.

Barbaros-class frigate: Turkey is working on a midlife modernization project focused on the sensors, weapons and combat management systems of Barbaros-class frigates. The first ship to receive upgrades, the TCG Barbaros, is currently performing acceptance tests.

F-16 fighter jet: There are two separate projects for the Turkish Air Forces. The first one is the procurement of new F-16 Block 70 aircraft and the application of Viper modernization to the existing F-16 Block 40/50 airframes in service. The second is meant to extend the structural service life of F-16C/D Block 40/50 aircraft currently in service to 2050, and to strengthen them structurally. This project will take place in facilities run by the 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate.

Akinci and Anka-S drones: There are ongoing efforts to buy various types of Akinci and Anka-S drones. For both of these projects, Turkey considers the extension of their range via satellite as critical.

Hürjet aircraft: The primary goal of this project is to design and produce a single-engine, tandem-seat jet trainer with performance features that will play a critical role in training pilots for modern fighter aircraft. The prototype made its maiden flight in April 2023.

Hürkuş-B aircraft: This program for a new-generation basic jet trainer is meant to meet Air Force Command’s need for additional training aircraft. Ultimately, this is to improve the quality of combat readiness training and the effectiveness of flight personnel training. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2025.

Cem Devrim Yaylali is a Turkey correspondent for Defense News. He is a keen photographer of military ships and has a passion for writing about naval and defense issues. He was born in Paris, France, and resides in Istanbul, Turkey. He is married with one son.

伊斯坦布尔——土耳其国防部于3月7日发布了年度报告，详细介绍了其在2023年开展的活动及其未来目标。

国防部列出了军队中正在进行的49个现代化和装备更新项目。以下是一些比较突出的项目：

M60坦克：目前正在进行两项独立的现代化改造项目。第一项工程将用新型Volkan-M火控系统替换现有的火控系统，并为M60T坦克增加额外的装甲防护和防护型乘员座椅。该合同已于2023年1月签署。第二项工程旨在提升M60A3坦克的火力、生存能力和机动性。原型车研发工作正在进行中。

2020年2月20日，一辆土耳其M60坦克行驶在叙利亚西北部伊德利卜市东南部的萨尔明镇。（图片来源：Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images）

豹2 A4坦克：该平台型号正在进行现代化改造，改造合同于2022年由土耳其政府国防项目管理机构SSB与当地国防承包商BMC Otomotiv签署。另一家土耳其企业Aselsan将提供火控系统、遥控武器站、指挥、控制、通信和信息系统、激光告警系统、驾驶员视觉系统、主动防护系统以及近程监视系统。BMC将负责把这些系统集成到坦克中，并对底盘进行全面改造。

T-155“菲尔蒂纳”自行榴弹炮：下一代T-155榴弹炮正在由BMC Otomotiv公司建造。最初的合同包括交付130门。截至2023年底，该公司已交付8门。BMC公司还在为该武器研发发动机。原型发动机的检验和验收工作已于2023年2月24日完成。

ACV-15型战车：阿塞尔桑公司正在对该型战车进行现代化改造，为其提供包括25毫米“内弗尔”炮塔在内的多种系统。国防部第二大维修厂正在负责该型战车发动机和变速箱的维修和大修工作。

“米尔登”号潜艇项目：海军设计局正在研发该国首个国产潜艇项目。建造工作将在格尔居克造船厂进行。测试模块将于今年开工建造，首艘潜艇的建造工作计划于2025年启动。

雷斯级潜艇计划：雷斯级潜艇计划的第二艘潜艇“希兹雷斯”号于2023年5月25日开工建造，该计划共建造六艘潜艇。格尔居克海军造船厂正在执行这项工作。

普雷韦泽级潜艇：在作为系统早期交付试验平台的“普雷韦泽”号潜艇完成集成和测试工作后，格尔居克海军造船厂于2022年7月启动了“萨卡里亚”号潜艇的中期升级改造。该潜艇是首艘接受现代化改造的潜艇，目前改造工作仍在进行中。计划在2027年之前，利用维护和大修周期对所有普雷韦泽级潜艇进行现代化改造。

巴巴罗斯级护卫舰：土耳其正在推进巴巴罗斯级护卫舰的中期现代化改造项目，重点升级其传感器、武器和作战管理系统。首艘接受升级的舰艇“巴巴罗斯”号目前正在进行验收测试。

F-16战斗机：土耳其空军有两个独立的F-16项目。第一个项目是采购新型F-16 Block 70战斗机，并对现役的F-16 Block 40/50机型进行“蝰蛇”（Viper）现代化升级。第二个项目旨在将目前服役的F-16C/D Block 40/50战斗机的结构寿命延长至2050年，并对其进行结构加固。该项目将在第一航空维修厂管理局的设施内进行。

Akinci 和 Anka-S 无人机：土耳其正在努力采购各种型号的 Akinci 和 Anka-S 无人机。对于这两个项目，土耳其都认为通过卫星扩展其航程至关重要。

赫尔杰特飞机：该项目的主要目标是设计和生产一款单引擎、串列双座喷气式教练机，其性能特点将在现代战斗机飞行员的训练中发挥关键作用。原型机于2023年4月首飞。

“赫尔库什-B”型飞机：这项新一代初级喷气式教练机项目旨在满足空军司令部对更多训练飞机的需求。最终目标是提高战备训练的质量和飞行人员训练的效率。首架飞机计划于2025年交付。

杰姆·德夫里姆·亚伊拉利是《防务新闻》驻土耳其记者。他热衷于拍摄军舰，并对海军和国防议题充满热情。他出生于法国巴黎，现居土耳其伊斯坦布尔。他已婚，育有一子。