When Turkish and French Defense industries forge closer ties.

According to information published by the Anadolu Ajansi on May 22, 2024, in a strategic collaboration between Titra Technology and Airbus, Turkey's first unmanned helicopter, ALPİN, is set to gain the capability to take off and land on maritime platforms.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

ALPIN Unmanned Helicopter at IDEF 2021, Istanbul. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The partnership was formalized during the SEDEC Homeland Security Fair, where Titra Technology's CEO, Abdulkadir Şener, revealed that the collaboration with Airbus has been underway for approximately 4-5 months. This initiative aims to integrate ALPİN's functionality with naval operations, a complex task that involves adapting the helicopter to land on moving ships.

The project involves significant hardware and software integration, leveraging Titra’s autopilot technology and Airbus’s expertise. The collaboration is expected to yield a functional maritime-capable ALPİN within six months, potentially leading to further joint projects.

Şener also noted the high level of international interest in ALPİN, with discussions ongoing with numerous countries across various continents. Titra Technology is establishing a new factory to meet the production demands and aims to finalize agreements with several countries by the end of the year. After its deployment in Northern Iraq, ALPİN received valuable field feedback, driving continuous improvement of the platform.

Context

The military relations between Turkey and France have experienced significant fluctuations, characterized by periods of tension and recent efforts towards rapprochement.

Historically, tensions have arisen from differing geopolitical interests, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya. In the Eastern Mediterranean, conflicts over natural gas exploration and maritime boundaries have led to military standoffs. France has increased its military presence in the region to counter Turkish activities, which it views as violations of international law and Greek-Cypriot sovereignty.

In Libya, the two countries have supported opposing factions, further straining their relationship. Turkey’s military intervention in Libya, backing the Government of National Accord (GNA), clashed with France's support for the Libyan National Army (LNA), leading to direct military incidents, such as the Courbet incident in 2020, where a French frigate was involved in a standoff with Turkish naval vessels​​.

Despite these conflicts, recent global events, particularly the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have catalyzed a shift towards cooperation. Both countries, as NATO members, have found common ground in supporting Ukraine and countering Russian aggression.