Turkish defense industry shifting to national OS

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's defense and aerospace industry will shift from its current foreign computer operating system to an existing Linux-based national software in light of security needs and license costs, according to the head of the state defense firm which undertook the project.

Ahmet Hamdi Atalay, CEO at the country's state-run air defense and software company HAVELSAN, told Anadolu Agency Wednesday that they hope to eliminate external dependency and enhance the domestic value-added in Turkey's defense industry.

"HAVELSAN has been assigned to promote the use of the PARDUS operating system (OS) primarily by the Defense Ministry, Turkish Armed Forces, linked institutions, state-run defense companies, and other participants in the industry," said Atalay.

Pointing to the lower costs of using national software, Atalay said, "Why don’t we use a national product, as we already have it? Why do we use outside sources for this purpose?"

Atalay also cited rising concerns about the current operating systems used worldwide in terms of cyber security, and information and communication safety.

"To eliminate these concerns or a backdoor suspicion by using national software has critical significance. All countries want to have a national system, especially to operate their essential infrastructures and institutions. So most of them have been working on this," said Atalay.

Atalay stated that HAVELSAN would work cooperatively with the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK) to produce experts focusing on improving, operating, and promoting PARDUS.

"The defense industry’s security concerns will encourage the transformation process for PARDUS OS. Public authority gives a strong message of 'be ready, modify your products and services,' to all participants of this sector by planning to shift entire operating systems," he added.

PARDUS OS, a Linux-based system, works with open-source principles to provide users with software architecture flexibility.

The system was developed in 2003 by TUBITAK, with five main and two corporate versions released since then, and it has been used mainly by public institutions.

The name of the operating system comes from the Anatolian leopard's Latin name, panthera pardus tulliana.

*Reporting by Goksel Yildirim, with writing and contributions by Muhammed Ali Gurtas