Türkiye and Azerbaijan could enter a deeper phase of defense technology cooperation centered on autonomous systems, command and control, software, multi-domain operations and cybersecurity, with technology transfer also under discussion. Speaking to AzerNEWS, HAVELSAN Vice President Şevket Ünal outlined the Turkish defense technology company’s vision for the next stage of cooperation with Azerbaijan, emphasizing that the relationship has developed considerably since HAVELSAN began operating in the country in 2020. Asked whether concrete steps toward joint production and technology transfer could be expected and how Azerbaijan fits into HAVELSAN’s regional strategy, Ünal said years of cooperation have allowed the two sides to develop a better understanding of each other’s requirements and working methods.
During this period, we have worked together on various projects. Therefore, today we are at a point where we understand each other, the requirements and the way we work much better. In the coming period, we are looking at the areas in which we can take this cooperation further,” Ünal told AzerNews.
HAVELSAN has spent approximately seven years working on unmanned ground, aerial and maritime vehicles. According to Ünal, the importance of this work extends beyond the platforms themselves and encompasses the engineering expertise and research and development capabilities accumulated during that period. HAVELSAN has been working on unmanned ground, aerial and maritime vehicles for approximately seven years.
Here, we are talking not only about the platforms that have emerged, but also about the substantial engineering and R&D expertise accumulated over the years,” he said. HAVELSAN is now discussing how some of this expertise could be shared with Azerbaijan, particularly in the fields of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles. Technology transfer to Azerbaijan is also among the issues we are discussing,” Ünal said.
He stressed, however, that these discussions have not yet resulted in a finalized agreement. What is important for us is to develop an approach that responds to Azerbaijan’s needs and has practical value in the field,” he said. Ünal explained that HAVELSAN does not favor simply taking an existing model and reproducing it unchanged in another country.
Instead, the company believes cooperation should be designed jointly around the requirements of the partner country. Beyond autonomous platforms, HAVELSAN sees considerable scope for expanding cooperation in command-and-control and simulation technologies. Our work and contacts with Azerbaijan in these areas are also continuing.
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