To Be or Not to Be...? Someone’s grief, and someone’s drinking party

Traditions of the Kyrgyz people were being formed with the help of economic, trade, domestic and other relations with kindred and other tribes that were closely related to the geography of their ha...

Iran of the 60s: unsuccessful attempt to reform

After the coup of 19 March 1953 in the socio-political history of Iran there were fundamental changes: the powers of parliament were limited and the absolute power of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was...

Topic: Regional rivalry in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are two countries that claim to leadership in the region. With a powerful resources and political potential these countries are the...

Science & Technology, Turkey

Turkey to manufacture domestic passenger car
17.05.2013
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey, which ranks 16th in the world in terms of the development of the automotive industry, intends to manufacture a passenger car made on a domestic production line, Anadolu agency quotes Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on an official visit to the United States, as saying.

According to Erdogan, Turkey is the second country in the world after China in terms of a growth in electricity consumption.

"Turkey has implemented a programme to increase the GDP in 2011-2017. This will result in the GDP growing by an average of 6.7 per cent," Erdogan said.

Turkey to produce Black Hawk helicopters
07.05.2013
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey is going to start mass production of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk multi-purpose helicopters previously produced in the U.S., Hurriyet newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the helicopters will be produced by Turkey's aerospace company Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Endüstrileri (TAI) under the supervision of the Secretariat of the Defence Industry under the Ministry of Defence of Turkey.

The Black Hawk helicopters production programme has been developed in Turkey since 2011. The budget is estimated at $3.5 billion.

Turkey ready for ANKA UAV serial production
07.05.2013
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey's first domestic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ANKA is ready for serial production after test flights, The Lira newspaper reported on Monday.

According to the report, Turkish aerospace company Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii A.Ş (TUSAŞ) is already receiving orders for the production of the drones and is soon starting mass production.

Work on the creation of the first Turkish reconnaissance drones has been underway since 2004. About 180 engineers have worked on the project.

Turkey produces river-crossing armoured bulldozer
11.01.2013
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey has produced the world's first armoured bulldozer named AZMİM, with a river-crossing capability, Anadolu reported.

The project on the bulldozer's production has been developed over four years.

According to the agency, AZMİM will be used by the Turkey's military for traversing rivers. At the initial stage it is planned to produce 12 such armoured units.

The AZMİM can reach speeds of up to 45 kilometres per hour. In addition, it is capable of standing up against landmines and armour-piercing bullets.

Turkey postpones purchasing U.S F-35 fighters
11.01.2013
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey has decided to postpone the purchase of F-35 fighters, online newspaper Sabah reported today, citing a source at the Defense Ministry.

According to the newspaper, the final decision was postponed until the middle of the year.

Early last year, the Turkish government permitted the secretariat of the defense industry to purchase the first two U.S F-35 fighters.

In general, Turkey is planning to buy 116 F-35 fighters: 100 fighters as part of the main contract, and 16 as part of the option.

Turkey receives first data from Göktürk-2 satellite
09.01.2013
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey began receiving data from the country's second domestic reconnaissance satellite Göktürk-2, launched on Dec, 18, Anadolu Agency quoted Turkish Minister for Science, Industry and Technology, Nihat Ergun as saying on Tuesday.

He said the first data of Turkey's territory is pictures of Antalya Province, the first pictures of foreign territories - pictures of New Zealand.

The Göktürk-2 satellite flew over Turkish territory four times in a one day period and can take pictures of any area of the country.

Missile shipment to Turkey expected to be completed end of January
09.01.2013
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Shipment of Patriot air-defense missiles and equipment as well as 400 US military personnel to Turkey is expected to be completed end of January as part of a NATO mission to bolster Turkey's air defense capabilities against possible missile threat from Syria, a Pentagon spokesperson said Tuesday, Anadolu reported.

"Almost half of the equipment and 400 personnel have arrived in Turkey and by the end of the month we expect all of the equipment and personnel to be in Turkey," George E. Little told a daily press briefing.

Turkey to purchase Sidewinder missiles
26.12.2012
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey has ordered 117 air-to-air Sidewinder missiles from the U.S., CNN Turk reported on Wednesday.

It is reported that the Turkish Ministry of Defense's Undersecretary for the defense industry has signed an initial agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense.

The acquisition of 117 Sidewinder missiles will cost Turkey $140 million. According to the channel, the question of Turkey's sale of Sidewinder missiles is being discussed by the U.S. Congress. If Congress confirms the agreement, Turkey will receive the first batch of missiles in the coming months.

Turkey to launch second satellite
18.12.2012
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

Turkey's second domestic reconnaissance satellite Göktürk-2 will be launched today, online newspaper Zaman reported on Tuesday.

The satellite will be launched from the Jiuquan Chinese base at 18:13 Turkish time. With a resolution of 2.5 meters, the satellite will be used for defence purposes.

The first signal from the satellite will be received in Ankara at 21:25 local time. The first images from the satellite will be transferred on Dec.25-30.

Previously, in 2011, Turkey launched first domestic reconnaissance satellite RASAT.

Turkey prepares to manufacture new type of UAV
18.12.2012
Science & Technology|Middle East|Turkey

The Turkish Scientific and Research Centre for Aerospace Technologies (UZAYTEM) jointly with Tusaş Motor Sanayi are preparing to manufacture a new type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Anadolu Agency reported on Tuesday.

The new UAV will differ from earlier manufactured UAVs in regards to functionality.

The new UAV will have a length of six meters and a total weight of 150 kilograms. The first test of the new model of the UAV will be held in August of 2013. If the new UAV is successful, the Tusaş Company will begin mass production by 2014.

This will be the third Turkish UAV.