İsmail Demir, the President of Defense Industry, who was hosted on NTV live broadcast, stated that the concept definition studies for the development and production of a common long-range air defense system carried out with the French-Italian partnership EUROSAM have come to an end.
Stating that assessments would continue as long as there are concrete proposals for the need of air defense systems, Ismail Demir said that;
“Regarding EUROSAM, there was a definition study we started before. In general, this study will enable joint use of 3 countries; with 3 countries i mean France, Italy and Turkey. It was the scope for joint development of an advanced air defense system. Here, a definition study has been completed with the part involving Turkey. Because we are in the final retouching phase. A road map will be set out with the other two countries adding their own definitions to this. We said that we are ready to consider the proposals regarding the direct supply part within the framework of this project chain. But there, too, in Patriot proposal, we have repeatedly stated that we are very insistent on these joint production and common technology issues.“
Longer-range and more advanced versions of the SAMP / T long-range air defense system produced by EUROSAM are planned to be produced. Turkey signed a contract in January 2018 for the execution of works for the joint development and production in this context.
İsmail Demir stated that there were problems with France.
At the 2019 assessment and 2020 planning meeting held at the Presidency of Defense Industry in January 2020, Demir said;
“One of the reasons why there is no concrete progress about SAMP-T, even though definition study is executes, is that the political attitude of France towards Turkey. There is a possibility to continue the project with Italian partners, but the process may be blocked.”
