Ukraine and Turkey to cooperate in the production of UAVs

8 July, 2023 Bayraktar TB2 UCAV in Turkey. Photo credits: BAYKAR Ukraine has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Turkey on the development of facilities and capabilities for the production of various types of drones.

This was announced by the Office of the President of Ukraine on July 8. A memorandum of understanding in the field of strategic industries was signed within the framework of the working visit of the President of Ukraine to Turkey. The document was signed by the Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleksandr Kamyshin and Minister of Industry and Technology of Turkiye Mehmet Fatih Kacir.

The signing took place in the presence of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ukraine and Turkey signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of UAV production, July 2023. Photo credits: Office of the President of Ukraine

The memorandum is aimed at promoting cooperation in strategic industries and technologies between the companies in Ukraine and Turkey. In addition, support is provided for the introduction of the existing and the launch of new projects in these areas.

Among the areas of cooperation is the development of capacities and capabilities for the production of autonomous vehicles, in particular unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The memorandum provides for increased production of various types of UAVs, research and development in the field of autonomous systems, as well as in the space and other technological sectors of strategic industries of the two countries. Other technical cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey is provided for as well, which is necessary for the development of strategic industries of both sides.

As covered earlier, at the end of April, the Ministry of Strategic Industries reported that two Ukrainian defense industry enterprises had signed three new agreements with the Turkish company Baykar. The details of this cooperation were not disclosed, but then they emphasized that the new contracts would give Ukraine "export revenue and weapons of a new generation". Also in early February this year, it became known that in Ukraine the location of the Bayraktar Complex Service Center was determined.

They will maintain, repair and modernize equipment there. Personnel will also be trained there to operate Baykar drones.

Bayraktar TB2 UCAV in Turkey.

Photo credits: BAYKAR

The launch and start of operation of the Turkish UAV plant in Ukraine is predicted for 2025.

The construction of the enterprise and the arrangement of the center provides for the transfer of technologies and the localization of production.

In 2021, Ukraine and Turkey signed a memorandum on the construction of a joint training and testing center for the operation of drones.