CANiK to Lead Technology and Innovation in 2024

CANiK to Lead Technology and Innovation in 2024

 

Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS) continues its global growth in the firearms sector with CANiK and other group companies. Cahit Utku Aral, General Manager of SYS, stated that they would be a leading Turkish defense and aerospace company in 2024 as well, with innovative, cutting-edge products.

 

CANiK News: Could you evaluate SYS's 2024 goals, with the 2023 data for the Turkish defense and aerospace industry in mind?

 

Cahit Utku ARAL: In 2023, the Turkish defense and aerospace industry achieved a record export revenue amounting to $5.545 billion. As CANiK, we are pleased to be among the top 10 companies in the sector with our export revenue of $133 million dollars contributing to this record. As for our country, we observed that the budget allocated for national defense has increased compared to the previous year, and companies have been supported with incentives. With this momentum, we expect 2024 to be a significant year for the sector regarding both exports and technological developments.

In 2024, we will continue to advance as a global brand on the world stage, representing the highest levels of innovation, quality, technology, and intelligent solutions in firearms and defense. We will continue to progress in lockstep with our CANiK brand and all our affiliates and brands such as CANiK USA, CANiK Academy, AEI Systems, UNIROBOTICS, UNIDEF, and MECANiK. We have high expectations for the year 2024. We will participate in a total of 14 international fairs, 12 of which are abroad with our CANiK brand and SYS group companies. Our first stop was SHOT Show, the world's largest fair in the firearms sector, traditionally held in Las Vegas every year. We launched our new pistol globally, the CANiK TTI Combat, with this fair. I can say that we achieved the success we wanted at the SHOT Show, in line with our 2024 goals.

 

CANiK News: The CANiK booth attracted a lot of attention at the SHOT Show. What can you say about the reasons for this interest and the importance of the fair for the industry?

 

Cahit Utku ARAL: The SHOT Show brought firearms industry professionals together for the 46th time, as the world's largest and most comprehensive firearms and marksmanship fair. The easiest way to explain its importance to us and all our global competitors is to talk about the numbers. As of 2022, the size of the United States hunting and shooting market was approximately $20 billion. Considering that this figure is larger than our country's 2023 defense and aerospace industry turnover, you can see just how important it is. Therefore, all global players are in serious competition to get a share of such a large market.

This year's SHOT Show once again provided sector professionals with a unique experience by bringing the cutting edge in the firearms sector to participants and visitors. The fair created an environment for the introduction of new products and strategic collaborations by hosting leading companies in the sector, along with facilitating contact among companies in the defense equipment, technology, and security systems sectors, contributing to the development of future strategies for brands that play an active role in the industry

The reason for the intense interest in the CANiK booth can be attributed to the diversity of our innovative and cutting-edge firearms and accessories. Visitors at our booth had the opportunity to experience almost everything they were looking for in terms of firearms, for sure.

 

CANiK TTI Combat Launch Met with Great Interest

CANiK News: What were the highlights of SHOT Show 2024 for CANiK?

 

Cahit Utku ARAL: As I mentioned earlier, SHOT Show 2024 is the world's largest event for firearms. Moreover, this fair was very significant for us as we finally concluded what we had been eagerly working on for 2 years. We made the world debut of the CANiK TTI Combat, which we developed in collaboration with Taran Butler and the Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI) team. We combined the performance of a brand that occupies the upper segment in the custom-designed pistols market with our superior technology, quality, and high production capacity with this pistol. We can confidently say that our brand CANiK made a big impact at SHOT Show 2024. In addition, we received a very massive order right at the SHOT Show, bringing us even more motivation.

 

CANiK News: You emphasized that the United States is a very large market in terms of firearms. Can you tell us about CANiK's expectations for this market in 2024?

 

Cahit Utku ARAL: We are already one of the most important players in the United States firearms market. Last year we entered the top 5 in this market, and our goal for this year is to climb higher in the rankings. We also aim to expand upon the success we've achieved in the civilian arms market by winning firearm tenders for the United States security forces and armed forces. We will commission our new factory in the state of Florida this year for this purpose. Behind this project are again the experiences we have gained from the past and our long-term plans. You may remember that in 2018 we were one of the 8 companies invited to the second-largest federal tender in the United States after the American land forces, the tender for the United States Customs and Border Protection, and we had won it. Despite our victory, the contract was awarded to a firm that could produce in the United States, and production must be done in the country to win a federal tender of the United States security forces. In order to not face this situation again, we are constructing a factory in the country, able to produce all our firearms, including CANiK 12.7x99 mm heavy machine guns and the low-recoil VENOM LR 30x113 mm and other medium-caliber cannons.

 

“Top Three in Exports to the American Market”

 

CANiK News: The brand awareness of CANiK in the American market is increasing every year. Can you evaluate the approach of American consumers to Turkish brands and products?

 

Cahit Utku ARAL: We are proud to be one of the three companies that export the most worldwide to the United States, the leading firearms sector, as Türkiye’s global brand. We continue to shape the industry with our investments in the United States and our products collect many prestigious awards every year, including the ICA awards known as the Oscars of the firearms sector. Additionally, with the launch of the CANiK TTI Combat at SHOT Show, we believe that more CANiK-branded products will be featured in respected Hollywood projects.

 

CANiK News: Lastly, we would like to ask about the current status of your collaboration with Nurol Makina, which was initiated recently.

 

Cahit Utku ARAL: Our collaboration with Nurol Makina needs to be evaluated on two fronts. The first is the result of the inclusion of the UK-based AEI Systems in the SYS group of companies, which includes CANiK, ensuring Türkiye and the UK are world leaders in the production of medium-caliber cannons. The second is the national remotely controlled stabilized weapon turret (RCWS) family developed by our group company UNIROBOTICS. I believe that the power union of AEI Systems, UNIROBOTICS, and Nurol Makina has led to an excellent project.

Nurol Makina is one of Türkiye’s stars in the defense and aerospace sector, with a proven track record, and I believe that together we will achieve greater success by combining our different strong points in the future. As for our collaboration; within our project, we integrated the low-recoil 30x113 mm cannon VENOM LR from AEI Systems and the indigenous TRAKON RCWS produced by UNIROBOTICS onto Nurol Makina's EJDER YALÇIN 4x4 vehicle. Even the first firing tests were successfully completed. This project is also indicative of the rising successes of the Turkish defense companies in the global market.

 

We would like to thank Cahit Utku Aral, General Manager of SYS, for taking the time to answer our questions, and for providing us with such valuable information.