Turkey, Ukraine negotiate joint defense projects

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“Vacuums are being filled very quickly, ” a source in the Israeli defense establishment told I-HLS. This, in reaction to the fact that Turkey and Ukraine are striving to build a strategic industrial alliance, an alliance that could include cooperation across a variety of military programs.

A Ukrainian delegation under the umbrella of Ukroboronprom – a state-owned defense conglomerate bringing together 130 companies and engineering institutions – came to Ankara in early April to discuss future cooperation. After several meetings, the two countries agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding, the first legal text to pave the way for future joint projects.

“There is a lot we can do together … work jointly. Ukraine has an established, proven industry with impressive capabilities … which can assist some of our indigenous programs,” a senior Turkish procurement official was quoted in Defense News. He said that potential Turkish-Ukrainian cooperation would include programs such as missile defense, armor technologies, tank production, space, engines, satellites and fighter jets.

A Vienna-based Russia analyst quoted, said that “this [the Turkish-Ukrainian partnership] will certainly echo in Moscow, and not in a pleasant way,” said.

As reported by I-HLS, the Israeli ministry of defense has stopped negotiations between various Israeli companies and their Ukrainian counterparts regarding different programs, in order “not to anger Moscow.”

A Turkish agent for the Ukrainian industry said, the new initiative would boost comprehensive cooperation. Ankara has its own ambitions to design, develop and manufacture indigenous fighter and tank engines, as well as a program to build its own fighter jet. It also runs a number of missile programs, both tactical and cruise.