The 65-page “Turkish Drone Industry” report, prepared by the French Defense Ministry’s Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS) in July and released to the public in October, caused diplomatic tension between Paris and Ankara. The report included important information on Turkish UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) production and strategic facilities in this area. However, the report’s content and the methods used were met with serious discomfort, especially by Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense.
Content of the Report and Open Source Research
The report prepared by France aimed to comprehensively examine the Turkish drone industry based on open source research. It was stated that the report was supported by previously published data, especially by online researchers. These sources included publicly available satellite photos provided by Planet Labs. The photos show UAV production facilities, military test areas and production processes in Turkey. The main focus of the report was the Bayraktar TB-2 UAV produced by Baykar. The Bayraktar TB-2 is the best-selling and most well-known UAV of the Turkish drone industry. Baykar's production facilities and the successes of this UAV in various combat areas were examined in detail in the report.
Turkey's Reaction and Diplomatic Tension
The French Ministry of Defense's open presentation of the satellite photos and information on production facilities in the report to the public has disturbed Turkey. Turkey is very concerned about the leaking of its technologies and facilities, especially in strategic areas such as UAV production. The Ministry of National Defense made an official statement to the French Embassy, requesting that the report be withdrawn and that such information not be published further.
It was stated that the French Embassy forwarded Turkey’s demands to Paris, but the French Ministry of Defense asked the subcontractors that prepared the report, Philippe Chabrol’s corporate intelligence firm Affinis Conseil and Eurocrise, owned by retired General Loup Francart, to remove the report from their websites. However, it was explained that the report did not reflect the official view of the French government and was a study based solely on open source research.
Response from the French Ministry of Defense and Status of the Study
The French Ministry of Defense stated in statements regarding the publication of the report that DGRIS was not responsible for it and that this study did not reflect the position of the French Ministry of Defense. However, the French Ministry of Defense stated that firms such as Affinis Conseil had previously conducted similar studies in other countries such as Saudi Arabia and that such studies were generally based on open sources.
France has not backed down from criticism of the report’s details, but continues to take steps to limit its dissemination in an effort to ease diplomatic tensions. However, this situation continues to create tension in relations between Turkey and France.
Global Success of Turkish Drone Industry
The report also included the great success of the Turkish drone industry in recent years. The sale of UAVs such as the Bayraktar TB-2 not only to Turkey but also to many countries around the world has increased the impact of the Turkish defense industry in the global arena. Baykar's successes were not limited to exports, but also attracted attention with the effective use of UAVs in combat areas. The success of Turkish UAVs in combat areas has strengthened the global competitiveness of the Turkish defense industry.
France’s detailed report detailing the strategic facilities and achievements of the Turkish drone industry is not only a research report, but also carries critical significance in that it carries important information about Turkey’s defense industry. This has been a sensitive issue for Turkey in terms of security.
The Future of Diplomatic Relations
This diplomatic tension between France and Turkey reveals the sensitivities regarding strategic information, especially in the military and defense industry. While Turkey is determined not to leak developments in the defense industry, France ensures that such information is available to the public by using open source research. This tension may have long-term effects on defense cooperation and strategic relations between the two countries. It will be a matter of curiosity how both countries will manage their diplomatic processes if similar reports are prepared and presented to the public in the future.
