Canada to Use Türkiye’s SSB as a Model to Cut Defence Import Dependence and Boost Domestic Production
Canada plans to use Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) as a model at home, to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers and increase domestic defence production. The information comes from an Anadolu Agency report citing defence industry sources; there is no official confirmation from the Canadian government.
What Is Planned
According to the report, during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Ankara it was indicated that Canada would take the SSB as a role model for localising its defence industry. The sources are unnamed. The priority is to lift production, innovation and technology-transfer cooperation between Canadian and Turkish companies to a strategic level.
What Carney Said
Carney said Türkiye produces about 80 percent of its defence needs domestically, which is not the case in Canada. In Istanbul he said: “We are in a position where we need Türkiye’s expertise in the defence industry more to protect Canadians.” According to Daily Sabah, Carney described a domestic-content rate above 80 percent as a desirable goal for Canada. See our report on Carney’s 80 percent remark.
Why the SSB?
The report describes the SSB as coordinating localisation, procurement, regulation, public-private cooperation and financing, with an ecosystem of more than 4,000 companies. Canada is not alone in its interest: Poland’s defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, has said the SSB does not only produce and buy for its own needs but also exports and promotes exports, and that Poland wants a similar model.
Canada’s Own Groundwork
Canada set up a Defence Investment Agency last year to cut procurement delays and aims to raise the domestic industry’s share of defence spending to 70 percent over the next 10 years. According to The Hill Times on October 8, proposed legislation to make the agency a Crown corporation is seen by former senior officials as “unprecedented” and raises accountability concerns.
Meetings With ASELSAN and Baykar
On October 23, Carney met senior executives of ASELSAN and Baykar in meetings led by the SSB. Details were not disclosed. For the memorandum signed a day earlier, see our report.
What We Do Not Know
It is unclear which elements of the SSB model Canada would adopt, or on what timeline. The report rests on unnamed sources rather than an official document and should be read as reported intent.
