Ukraine and Turkey to collaborate on weapons and ammunition production
Ukraine has agreed to joint munition production projects in the context of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2017, which is taking place in Istanbul, as reported on the website of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC).
Memoranda have also been signed regarding collaboration in the production of avionics, navigation and new planes.
“The number of signed contracts and memoranda on collaboration are evidence that Ukrainian weaponry and Ukrainian technology are in demand in the world markets,” NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov commented.
According to him, Ukraine and Turkey have many promising joint projects in the area of military. In particular, he announced that a joint work group has been created for coordinating strategic projects, which will work on their practical realization. Turchynov stated that the Turkish partners are also prepared to invest in Ukrainian defense enterprises. “These are massive new projects, we are discussing them now, and I hope that we will move from the theory to their implementation,” the NSDC secretary stated.
The press service of Ukroboronprom reported that Turkish MKEK (Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu, Mechanical and Chemical Industry Company) has become a partner in munitions production.
At the exhibition a memorandum of collaboration was also signed between Antnov and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for developing and producing various modifications of unmanned aerial vehicles, including attack UAVs.
TAI is involved in the design, development, production and integration, modernization and after-sales services of aerospace systems.
Another memorandum was signed by Ukroboronprom and the Undersecretariat of the Turkish Defense Ministry’s defense industry. Its goal is to improve the collaboration between the defense industry complexes of both countries. This Undersecretariat is the primary administrator of the state defense industry funds and is responsible for providing the Turkish army with all kinds of weapons, military equipment and ammunition.
In March 2017, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers obtained consensus regarding the creation of an ammunition industry in Ukraine.
At the start of the year Vladimir Korobov, deputy general director of Ukroboronprom, said that the concern is prepared to begin large-scale production of ammunition if it receives financing for 18 months. This factory will be able to produce bullets of both NATO and post-Soviet calibers.
Previously the production of ammunition was performed at the Luhansk Ammunition Factory. The factory is currently located in the territories not controlled by the Ukrainian government.