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2022-05-01
Otokar Continues to Make Strides in GCC
By: Sakha Pramod
Turkish company Otokar is renowned for providing solutions with its own technology, design, and applications. It has been a key partner for the GCC region when it comes to supplying tracked armoured vehicles and tactical armoured vehicles for the defence industry.
By: Sakha Pramod
In an interview, Otokar Military Vehicles Engineering Group Director Akif Akfert, and Otokar Land Systems Director, Tamer Sırçalı, shed light on the capabilities of their modern vehicles, discussed collaboration with the UAE and emphasised why sustainability is the need of the hour. Excerpts:
Can you please outline your role and responsibilities?
Akif Akfert: I started working as a young engineer at Otokar, which coincided with the start of Otokar’s military vehicle design and production venture. I have worked in several different positions and on many military projects during my time here. For the last four years, I have been appointed as the Engineering Group Director and have been responsible for the entire research and development processes of Otokar military vehicles. Together with my team, we are continuously focusing on bringing out the best products for the existing and future requirements of the modern armies of the world.
Tamer Sırçalı: In line with the extensive capabilities of Otokar and due to our strong commitment to the esteemed government of the UAE, since 2016, we have conducted all our activities in the country through the establishment of Otokar Land Systems. Located in Masdar City, we manage our entire GCC relations from here. Besides all my other tasks, together with my team, I am specifically responsible for the programme management of the Rabdan 8x8 project within the company and for ensuring the smooth coordination between Otokar and our Joint Venture Company, Al Jasoor.
In terms of capabilities, what’s unique about Otokar?
Akfert: Our combat-proven know-how in land systems and related R&D, engineering and testing capabilities and our wide product range put us at the forefront of the global defence industry. We analyse our users’ different needs and expectations for land systems, simulate these requirements in-house, and develop solutions that meet these requirements in the fastest manner, thanks to our excellence in R&D, engineering, and testing. Otokar military vehicles are actively used in various terrains, extreme climatic conditions, and conflict zones. The performance of our vehicles serving worldwide is the most important reference for our potential customers.
Being the first automotive company that used computer-aided design in Turkey, research and development is a core part of Otokar. Has the emphasis on R&D paid off for the company? What funds are earmarked for R&D?
Akfert: In the last decade, we had allocated 8 per cent of our revenue for our R&D and testing activities. Vehicle development is a never-ending process for us. We continue to introduce innovative solutions in land systems by considering the current and future requirements of modern armies and security forces.
Otokar has a state-of-art RDT&E Centre equipped with system-level simulators, test equipment, and computing systems to generate and evaluate the information for faster testing of vehicles using advanced technology. Otokar R&D capabilities include CAD software for product design, simulation, and analysis, prototyping workshops, and a unique Test Centre, which houses Turkey’s highest capacity hydraulic road simulator and a Climatic Test Chamber equipped with a 1500 HP Dynamometer, the one and only of its kind in Turkey and amongst a handful in Europe. The Test Centre is also home to Turkey’s largest state-of-the-art Electromagnetic Compatibility Test Centre (EMC/EMI), which serves as an accredited independent EMI/EMC Test Centre for all R&D activities of domestic and foreign automotive and defence industries.
Otokar Test Centre activities support design activities by simulating real-life conditions and generating invaluable feedback based on data. That is how we can meet various user expectations under different ambient conditions and have a worldwide competitive edge over our competitors.
The Product Validation Department, which manages all activities of the Otokar Test Centre, operates in compliance with the ISO/IEC 17025 ‘General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories’. The data is obtained and evaluated as per international military standards.
Otokar introduced its electric armoured vehicle, AKREP IIe, for the first time for international markets at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi. Otokar also displayed other armoured vehicles like ARMA 6x6 and COBRA II 4x4. How was the experience at IDEX?
Sırçalı: IDEX is one of the few most important defence events in the entire world, and it offers a great opportunity to meet the users and potential customers. Therefore, we choose to launch our vehicles for the first time, mostly at IDEX, as we did with Akrep IIe. We are always glad about the great interest we get at IDEX, which didn’t change even during the pandemic.
Tell us about the variety of Otokar’s Wheeled and Tracked armoured vehicles.
Tell us about the variety of Otokar’s Wheeled and Tracked armoured vehicles.
Akfert: Otokar stands apart with its expertise in design, development, and system integration of both combat-proven wheeled and tracked platforms, where they are internationally known for their survivability, superior mobility and modularity in challenging terrains and extreme weather conditions.
With a vast range of armoured tactical vehicles from four to 65 tonnes in wheeled (4x4, 6x6 & 8x8) and tracked along with different turret solutions, Otokar is considered as one of the most sophisticated land defence plants worldwide. Capabilities of the design, testing, development, and production under one single umbrella greatly differentiate Otokar from its rivals.
As an example, Otokar being the main contractor & the design authority indigenously developed the Turkish Main Battle Tank, ALTAY and handed over to the Turkish Government with its fully validated prototypes for the serial manufacturing.
How many Otokar vehicles are actively in service, and in how many countries?
Sırçalı: As a listed NATO and UN supplier, nearly 33,000 Otokar military vehicles are actively in service in more than 35 countries with almost 55 end-users in different climates and geographies worldwide.
Apart from its state-of-the-art platforms, Otokar is recently focusing on expanding its activities to meet its clients’ existing and future requirements on a global scale, such as the local MRO facilities and, in some cases, local production models through the transfer of technology.
How successful are your company’s strategic partnership activities with EDGE of the Abu Dhabi Government?
Sırçalı: As mentioned, Al Jasoor was established as a joint venture company between the Abu Dhabi Government and Otokar for the supply of 8x8 armoured vehicles for the UAE Armed Forces in 2017 and showed an outstanding performance despite challenges.
In parallel to Otokar’s long years of working principals, Al Jasoor works in the same mentality and concentrates on total customer satisfaction in a smooth partnership with EDGE.
As a result, our joint product RABDAN 8x8 Infantry Fighting vehicles are in service with the UAE Armed Forces with an outstanding performance making both Otokar and EDGE very proud. Both organisations have worked hard to manage the project despite the pandemic and other challenges. Therefore, the vehicles were handed over to the Customer well ahead of the initially planned delivery schedule.
Furthermore, Al Jasoor will be at the government’s disposal to continue its activities and expand our collaboration based on such performance.
Are there any plans to expand the company’s presence in the Gulf region?
Sırçalı: The GCC is particularly important for Otokar. We have successfully operated with our wide range of vehicles in several countries in the region since the early 2000s.
Otokar Land Systems has made us closer to all our valued clients in GCC. Our teams are spending huge effort to better support these customers locally in the region.
Thinking global but acting local is one of the most important strengths of Otokar. As we continue to reap the benefits of our MRO and local capability development activities in GCC, I am pleased to say that today Otokar acts in the UAE with a much broader scope than being a simple vendor.
Did the pandemic affect Otokar’s production and delivery plans?
Sırçalı: From the early days of the pandemic, we took all necessary measures to protect the health of our employees as a priority, ensure business continuity, mitigate the impact, and prevent infection. With safe production practices and several measures in place, our operations continued in the healthiest manner possible.
Thanks to the effective and efficient precautions taken in a timely manner, our activities in terms of engineering, supply chain, production and deliveries were not affected due to the pandemic.
Despite the cancellation of planned exhibitions and the imposed travel restrictions, we also maintained constant communication with our customers.
What measures have been taken by Otokar as part of its sustainability strategy?
Akfert: Our business strategy is based on improving the living standards of future generations with efficient, environment-friendly, and innovative products that will contribute to establishing peace and safety worldwide.
Sustainability lies at the core of our activities. In line with our sustainability strategy, we designed a business model that faithfully follows work ethics, creates value for the environment, meets all customer expectations, develops technology-driven products, and contributes to local capital. In all our operations, we aim for operational excellence.
We have adopted the United Nations Global Compact and the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles. In addition, we embrace United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and consider the compliance of our sustainability priorities with these goals.
We aim to create long-term value by combining economic, environmental, and social factors with corporate governance principles. As a testament to our sustainability-focused efforts, we have been included in the BIST Turkey Stock Exchange Sustainability Index, which comprises listed companies with the highest corporate sustainability performance since 2014.
Through the Sustainability Index, we share information on Otokar’s environmental, social, and corporate governance-related activities and our performance results and relevant targets with its stakeholders via our Sustainability Report.
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