Selçuk Bayraktar, BAYKAR Technology Leader, who builds the technologies of the future with the National Technology Initiative and inspires thousands of young people with his vision, came together with businesspeople and young people at an event held at the MÜSİAD Head Office and shared his projects and experiences. Stating that in the near future new-generation unmanned aerial vehicles will create a revolution in the history of warfare, Bayraktar said, "The Turkish armies won the first war in the world won with armed UAVs (SİHA)."
The National Technology Initiative Programme organized by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) was held at the MÜSİAD Head Office with the participation of BAYKAR Technology Leader and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Türkiye Technology Team (T3) Foundation Selçuk Bayraktar. The event, which began with the opening speech of MÜSİAD Vice President Gökhan Yetkin, continued with the assessments and experiences of BAYKAR Technology Leader Bayraktar. Sharing his thoughts and projects concerning the National Technology Initiative and unmanned aerial vehicle technologies, Bayraktar emphasized that in the near future new-generation unmanned aerial vehicles will bring about a revolution in the history of warfare.
"New-generation technologies are of vital importance for the future of countries"
Speaking at the programme, MÜSİAD Vice President Yetkin stated that as MÜSİAD they act with the understanding of "High Morality, High Technology", drawing attention to the importance of the technologies developed for the ideal of a strong Türkiye. Saying that national means and freedom of action come to the fore in having a say in international politics, Yetkin said, "New-generation infrastructure and technologies are of vital importance for the tomorrows of countries."
MÜSİAD Vice President Yetkin continued as follows:
"The National Technology Initiative is the most important touchstone for Türkiye to be able to sustain its claim of full independence in critical technology fields and for its goal of raising this claim to a far more advanced level. As a country, we possess all the equipment, infrastructure and qualified workforce required to reach this goal. In Türkiye there are currently more than 80 technoparks, nearly 7,000 companies carrying out R&D activities in these technoparks, and more than 1,600 R&D and design centres. As MÜSİAD, we will be the closest follower of the strategy and policy work carried out in Türkiye on matters such as the information technology sector, advanced technology sectors, R&D, design and innovation activities, the development of the human resources working in these fields, the transformation of the workforce and digital transformation. We are aware of how valuable national means and freedom of action are in having a say in international policies. New-generation infrastructure and technologies are of vital importance for the tomorrows of countries. This also shows that the right steps and initiatives will be the guarantee of our tomorrows as well."
"We have thrown off learned helplessness"
Explaining the work carried out with a focus on the National Technology Initiative at the programme, BAYKAR Technology Leader and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the T3 Foundation Selçuk Bayraktar referred to the expression "From the Roots to the Skies" and stated that young people have now thrown off learned helplessness and have become aware of the strength they draw from their roots. Bayraktar also recalled that Türkiye was one of the pioneering countries in aviation in the first years of the republic and said, "In the early 2000s, when no one knew about UAVs, we developed the first national flight computer. In 2007 we entered the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces. We developed the Bayraktar Mini UAV in 2007, the world-renowned Bayraktar TB2 in 2014, and AKINCI in 2019. At present only 3 countries in the world can develop this technology. We have the most advanced technology."
BAYKAR Technology Leader Bayraktar said the following in his speech:
"Even though we think we are not where we deserve to be in the positive sciences, we are the children of a civilization that was ahead in the positive sciences in the past. Our civilization was at the summit for a period. However, with the work we have produced recently, we have begun to throw off learned helplessness. We live in a world where whoever is strong is right. If we want our voice to be heard loudly, we must be powerful. When you enter the race from behind, it is very hard to catch up. The greatest wind of transformation in the world today is blowing in high technology. Those who make this wind of transformation blow are aware that technology development capabilities are critical for the survival of nations. This is a paradigm shift. If we look at BAYKAR’s story: in the early 2000s, when no one knew about UAVs, we developed the first national flight computer. In 2007 it entered the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces. In 2014 we developed the world-renowned Bayraktar TB2 and in 2019 AKINCI. At present only 3 countries in the world can develop this technology. We have the most advanced technology. We are developing the technology of 10 years from now. If it is not national, you cannot be independent. In the past they excluded our country from armed UAV projects. We made a better one, national and original. What matters is to struggle. I spent 4-5 years actually in the field together with the soldiers. This became our greatest advantage. We carried out this work in order to make our country fully independent. This is in BAYKAR’s genetic code as well."
"We will make a revolution in the history of warfare with unmanned combat aircraft"
Emphasizing that the first war in the world won with armed UAVs (SİHA) was won by the Turkish armies, BAYKAR Technology Leader Bayraktar said that with the new-generation technology being developed, Türkiye will make a revolution in the history of warfare. Bayraktar also stated that the fighter jets we see today will be the last manned combat vehicles ever produced.
Bayraktar continued as follows:
"The Bayraktar TB2 armed UAVs, which we foresee will make a revolution in the history of world warfare, are changing combat doctrines by flying in fleets. The first war in the world won with armed UAVs was won by the Turkish armies. Now we are going further. Armed UAVs and unmanned combat aircraft that can take off from and land on ships with short runways and on aircraft carriers will create a revolution on the battlefield. We are developing these aerial vehicles, and the fighter jets you see today will be the last manned combat vehicles ever produced. From now on they will all be unmanned. One of the greatest advantages for us, even though some present it as a disadvantage, is the F35 project from which our country was excluded. This step may be the greatest opportunity that has come to our feet to obtain a more advanced one."
