By Kaan Azman
Defence projects are mostly involved in “boutique” manufacturing, which requires a longer production process and high cost per unit.
TurDef interviewed ASSAN General Manager Gürcan Okumuş at the SAHA EXPO 2024 exhibition to learn about ASSAN’s current activities in the defence sector and its plans for the future. ASSAN may change it for good as dark clouds signalling the approaching war are all over the world.
Talking about ASSAN’s activities from the past to today, Gürcan Okumuş underlined that ASSAN is centred around serial production and exports:
“ASSAN started as a firm specialising in serial production for the spare parts of heavy machinery including those of Caterpillar’s with 16000+ types of spare parts. An important portion of the firm’s sales consisted of spare part exports. After 2016, activities in the defence sector started in addition to the existing spare part production. These activities specifically include the mechanical production of the Mk-80 series of aircraft bombs and artillery rounds with ongoing developments. Again, we are focused on exports here. But with the recent investments, we can produce all-up rounds by creating mechanical components and filling out energetic material in Bolu-Gerede.”
Okumuş noted that serial production carries utmost significance in the defence industry, given the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War’s enormous ammunition consumption figures:
“To be clear, production is the most critical part. Developing the munition is very important, but you can’t reach your goal if you can’t put it into serial production. The events that have sparked in the last few years, specifically the Russo-Ukrainian War, have shown us the importance of production with the large figures of munition usage. We have seen that 5000 to 10000 artillery rounds are being fired daily. Thus, as a firm emphasising serial production, which we know very well, we will hopefully increase our capabilities.”
ASSAN’s FAB-Series Bombs to Answer International Demand
ASSAN displayed a series of Russian-standard FAB-250 aircraft bombs during SAHA EXPO 2024. An important portion of the countries acquiring defence equipment from Turkiye consists of those operating combat aircraft of Russian origin, using the FAB-series bombs.
When asked if the move to add FAB-250 bombs to the portfolio was intended to answer a demand, Okumuş confirmed:
“We have embarked on producing these bombs due to demand and our business development efforts. We are not involved with the guidance kits, but cooperation is possible with ASELSAN as they recently tested the LGK kit for FAB bombs (Referring to QFAB-250-LG test-fired from an Azerbaijani Su-25).”
Extended-range 155 mm Artillery Ammunition on the Way
Okumuş stated that 155 mm artillery ammunition types with ranges of 56 km and 76 km are on the horizon, which will provide a new regime of firing range:
“We plan on 155 mm ammunition with ranges of 20 km and 40 km. We are also preparing for ammunition with 56 km and 76 km range. Different warheads and fuse types are included in our activities.”
Insensitive and Thermobaric Warheads In Works
Answering TurDef’s inquiry about plans for alternative warheads for ASSAN’s aircraft bombs and other munition types, Okumuş stated that insensitive and thermobaric warheads are being worked on:
“We are working on insensitive munitions —as you know, insensitive munitions are important for aircraft carrier fighters—and thermobaric warhead types for aircraft bombs and 155 mm ammunition. We will always be working on different warhead types.”
The Future
Gürcan Okumuş stated that ASSAN is working towards expanding its serial production capabilities to meet the increasing demand for the future, once again underlining the firm’s focus on serial production:
“As ASSAN Group, we are confident about going further in the defence sector. We have large investments in both Ankara and Gerede. Our main focus is serial production, considering our nature as a serial production firm. Serial production infrastructures are being developed to meet orders in large quantities as our main focus. We will support our defence industry and armed forces but also hope to support the exports with sales to friendly/allied countries.”
