Several reasons explain Turkey’s diligence in evolving its defense systems indigenously. By expanding its own domestic capability in defense production, Turkey can offset occasional Western pressures, as well as Ankara’s mounting fears of a strained relationship with Moscow as disagreements grow between the two countries over the Ukrainian crisis. It also strengthens Turkey’s international position in the arms industry and keeps pace with the military developments of its regional opponents. Greece signed defense agreements with Paris and Washington at the end of last year, and Iran as well has been developing its missile capabilities. Domestically, this defense strategy strengthens the ruling party and its ability to mobilize. 

Turkey is determined to develop its domestic defense capacities to counteract the Western pressures it faced after acquiring the Russian S400 missile defense system. The move towards domestic production is inseparable from the escalation of differences with Moscow after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his country’s support for the sovereignty and unity of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea (annexed by Russia in 2014), on the eve of his visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on 3 February this year. These tensions mounted further as Turkey proclaimed that Russia has waged a “war” against Ukraine and invoked the Montreux Agreement which regulates passage into the Black Sea in times of war. 

Domestic production in Turkey has evolved to meet 70 percent of Turkish military requirements, allowing the country to withstand the arms embargo, and increase exports in the global arms markets. This also eases Western pressure resulting from the suspension of arms exports to Turkey on the eve of its military incursion into Syria under Operation Peace Spring. 

In response, Turkey has made strides in its indigenous Siper missile system led by Turkish companies Aselsan, Roketsan and Tubitak. The Siper system is likely to accomplish major breakthroughs as it is equipped with an early warning radar developed by Aselsan.

Turkey’s development of an indigenous defence system is motivated by a number of factors, the most notable of which are:

1. Maintaining relations with the West: Turkey seeks to invest in the domestic production of defense systems in order to overcome differences with NATO countries, primarily the US, which opposed Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S400 defense system, because of which Ankara was excluded from the F35 article production program. Turkey is aware of the importance of relations with western powers, and views the production of a domestic defence system that can draw on American and European expertise as an opportunity to reaffirm Ankara’s centrality to the US and NATO. Turkey’s regional policies and its acquisition of a Russian defence system have strained its relations with Western powers and generated voices calling for Turkey’s expulsion from NATO.
   
   Turkey is betting that the production of an indigenous defence system will improve its relations with the US, strengthen areas of  military cooperation, establish the return of Turkey to the F35 fighter programme, as well as neutralize or at least reduce pressure within the US Congress on Turkey’s acquisition of F16 fighters.

2.  Countering tensions with Russia: Although Moscow remains intent to continue military cooperation and is ready to hand over a new S400 delivery to the Turkey, tensions with Moscow could rise over the Ukrainian crisis. Moscow warned the Turkish president of the dire consequences of his insistence on exporting Turkish drones to Kiev, and it has objected to  Turkey’s stance towards the conflict in Ukraine. Turkey’s initiative to amplify the production of a national defence systems is due to Ankara’s desire to circumvent Moscow’s anger if it decides to stop delivering the S400 system, or cancel the its defense supply contract.
   
   Turkey understands that responding to American pressure, abandoning the Russian defense system, and searching for other alternatives may infuriate Moscow. This could lead to the collapse of its growing relations with Russia at the political, economic levels, as well as the significant military cooperation, and Russian assistance in the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear plant in the Mersin Province. Turkey also relies heavily on Russian gas for its energy needs.

3- Strengthening Turkey’s defense position in the global industry: The successful testing of the Siper missile system at the end of last November highlights Turkish ambitions to strengthen its position in the global defense industry. It also demonstrates Turkey’s capacity to produce modern weapons and equipment and enables it to overcome difficulties in importing the weapons it lacks. Turkey’s defense exports by the end of November 2021 reached 2 billion ,793 million, 974 thousand USD, an increase of 39.7 percent over the same period in 2020, setting a record for exports of defense and air products.

4. Keeping pace with the military development of regional adversaries: Turkey is closely monitoring  military regional developments, particularly in light of Greece signing defense agreements with Paris and Washington at the end of last year, and Iran’s development of its missile capabilities. Ankara also remains uneasy about developments in Syria, fearing its own territories could be at risk, particularly after NATO’s withdrawal of its defense batteries, and differences with Moscow and Tehran over the future of the Syrian regime. These considerations all factor into Turkey’s strategy to accelerate the development of its defense systems.

5. Restoring the status of the AKP: The Turkish regime’s increased attention to developing defense industriess, and the successful testing of the Siper missile system, coincided with the sharp decline in the popularity of the ruling AKP. The ruling party is seeking to demonstrate its capacity to develop military capabilities, particularly advanced missile systems, thereby enhancing the defense of  Turkish territory. This also allows the regime to demonstrate Turkish autonomy in the face of US pressures, and Russia’s stipulations in the S400 missile contract.
   
   Turkey’s evolving defense industry helps the regime expand its political base as elections approach in the middle of next year, as well as leverage the deteriorating local currency and living conditions, which the Turkish opposition has successfully exploited to significantly grow its popular support.

In conclusion, Turkey’s extensive and increasing efforts, culminating in the  production of the Siper missile  system, illustrate the important role that Turkish companies have assumed in the country’s national defense. Siper missile testing and the continuing evolution of missile development shows that Turkey has created a strategy to strengthen its defense industries in international markets and circumvent the Western pressures it faces since acquiring the Russian S400 defense system.