The localization project carried out by the Turkish defense industry in the field of military maritime will achieve export success in its first mission.
STM Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. carries out critical localization and nationalization studies in this field with the military maritime projects it leads in the Turkish defense industry.
In this context, the Helicopter Visual Landing Support Lighting System (HEGIDAS), which was last used on surface warships and has been supplied from abroad to date, was brought to Turkey through localization studies.
HEGİDAS, developed jointly by STM and Berkin Defense Industry Engineering Trade Inc., can be used in all military surface platforms, especially in the National Ship Project MİLGEM in the country. STM will integrate the HEGIDAS system into 2 corvettes within the scope of an export project it is currently carrying out. Thus, the HEGIDAS system, developed for the first time by a domestic company using national resources, will also achieve export success.
The eyes and ears of helicopter pilots
HEGIDAS, which consists of visual guidance and flight deck lighting equipment and includes software that ensures that the system equipment operates in the appropriate configuration, plays a critical role in helping pilots safely approach and land the helicopter on the ship.
With HEGIDAS, helicopters can land safely on the ship in both day and night operations. HEGIDAS, which allows pilots to operate safely at night when visibility conditions are not suitable, minimizes the pilot workload. HEGIDAS can be used on all military surface platforms, including corvettes, frigates, logistics support or tanker ships with helicopter platforms.
Localism is rising step by step
STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz said that their biggest motivation in all activities they carry out as a company under the leadership of the Presidency of Defense Industries is “to ensure a fully independent Turkey in defence”.
Stating that, as Turkey’s leading company in military maritime, they focus on increasing domestic competencies, especially starting from construction, Güleryüz emphasized that while doing this, they aim to increase the locality in ships and platforms step by step.
Explaining that some systems could not be purchased due to the embargo, they localized some systems because they might face the risk of embargo in the future, Güleryüz stated that they put some systems on the localization agenda because they caused foreign exchange outflow even though they were procured from abroad. Güleryüz said:
“Our goal is to increase our engineering competencies and to prevent the outflow of foreign currency abroad and, on the contrary, to ensure the inflow of foreign currency into our country through exports. HEGIDAS is one of these systems. It is a lighting system that will enable the helicopter to land on the ship in a healthy way and support visual landing. Especially the lighting placed on the platform “It consists of systems. It is a system that includes advanced engineering so that the helicopter can see the platform and make certain directions to it. Until today, we were supplying this from abroad. As STM, we developed it jointly with our local companies. Hopefully, it will be available in our next platforms.”
Competitive against equivalent products
Stating that the system will allow pilots to land on ships safely, especially in difficult sea conditions, Güleryüz stated that the development process of HEGIDAS has been completed and it will begin to be integrated into the platforms.
Pointing out that HEGİDAS will be used in export projects and on MİLGEM 6th, 7th and 8th ships, Güleryüz said, “Our aim is to also bring efficiency to our companies. We want to grow together with our ecosystem. Because the stronger the companies in our ecosystem become in terms of engineering and muscle power, the stronger we become.” “We are becoming stronger. We think that we have brought HEGIDAS to our country in this sense. From now on, a system that can be integrated into all ships containing helicopter platforms and compete easily with its competitors abroad has been developed.” he said.
Özgür Güleryüz said that companies that have achieved this capability can easily compete with their products abroad and transport their products to different platforms.
Güleryüz stated that they will start using HEGIDAS in the corvettes that they will export abroad for the first time and more will follow.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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