SONGAR: Türkiye's armed drone family set to expand

In a statement, Barış Düzgün, the General Manager of Asisguard, highlighted their fruitful collaboration with HAVELSAN as a reliable subcontractor over the past two years. He mentioned that Asisguard has provided hardware and camera solutions to KAPGAN, BARKAN, and BAHA projects. Düzgün also expressed that this partnership paves the way for a merger with HAVELSAN. Düzgün emphasized the significance of HAVELSAN's involvement in enhancing Asisguard's image in the international market. He stated that the sustainability and continuity provided by a state-supported company like HAVELSAN will bolster Asisguard's reputation. Düzgün noted that before the collaboration with HAVELSAN, Asisguard had already established roles and sales in the foreign market, with 60% of their turnover in 2022 coming from abroad. The credibility of HAVELSAN will further contribute to the company's continuity and expansion into different markets. Regarding export activities, Düzgün shared that they recently signed a contract with Nigeria for a border security solution export, following their successful sale of the armed drone system SONGAR to the country. He mentioned that this export contract was made possible through cooperation with three major companies in the Turkish defense industry. Düzgün emphasized that their focus is not only on individual products but also on providing system solutions. He highlighted the importance of field experience and developing products suitable for different geographical regions. Düzgün pointed a finger at the ongoing development of the SONGAR family, with the addition of various payloads and capabilities such as night vision and electronic warfare. 'The aim is to offer a range of family drones for different purposes, filling gaps in the market and ensuring Turkey's self-sufficiency,' he said in a statement. Looking ahead, Düzgün also made comments about the integration of different ammunition into SONGAR and ongoing discussions with large companies. He added that they are working towards integrating these ammunition types and exporting them together with SONGAR. Düzgün expressed their intention to collaborate with one of the major companies in the near future and conduct field studies with another. 'Furthermore, Asisguard aims to export their other products alongside SONGAR in every country they enter, providing comprehensive system solutions encompassing cameras, vehicle modernizations, border security, and road security solutions in collaboration with stakeholders,' he said while concluding his remarks.