Global growth may have sunk into negative territory, industrial output may have plummeted and government ministries around the world may have cut back on expenditures, but one Turkish sector, at least, is bucking the trend and spending more: the defense industry.

Through increasing defense spending, some are hoping that not only will regional security be beefed up in a time of increasing uncertainty but, equally important, economic growth will trickle down as better infrastructure is created, foreign direct investment (FDI) increases, the “made in Turkey” label is promoted, exports soar and a more self-sufficient industry creates more jobs at home. The 9th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF'09), which began yesterday at the TÜYAP Fair, Convention and Congress Center in İstanbul's Büyükçekmece district, is a testament to this hope.At least 25 state ministers mingled with dozens of high-ranking generals from countries as diverse as Pakistan and Germany in a military candy store filled with rocket launchers, laser-guided missiles, unmanned helicopters, tanks and just about anything that can be used to destroy, deter or defend.Despite the crisis, Turkey's defense budget is poised to grow by about 9.1 percent to just under $10 billion in 2009. And if the increased size of the venue of for this fair has any correlation with other countries' military expenditures, it seems as though their budgets are also set to grow. This year's fair is 22,000 square meters, a 3,000 square meter increase over previous years. Turkey may buy air defense systems from RussiaTurkey has expressed interest in buying S-400 Triumf air defense systems from Russia, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Monday. "Turkey has expressed a strong interest in buying S-400 air defense systems from Russia," Novosti quoted Anatoly Aksenov, a senior advisor to the general director of Russian arms export monopoly Rosoboronexport, as saying. Aksenov, who is leading the Russian delegation at IDEF'09, said the possible deliveries of the S-400 to Turkey had been discussed during talks with SSM head Murad Bayar.The S-400 Triumf (also known as the SA-21 Growler) is designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles).US Sikorsky angers Italian CEOUS-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation officials held a press conference on Monday, the first day of the 9th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF'09) in İstanbul, presenting their multipurpose helicopters, in conjunction with an international tender launched by Turkey for the purchase of 115 of the aircraft.A source close to the defense industry told Today's Zaman that Sikorsky "deliberately" attempted to give the impression at the press conference that it had won the Turkish tender, although it has not yet been concluded. The same source, who opted to remain anonymous, claimed that this "angered" the Italian AgustaWestland executives who brought the TUHP 149 model to the fair, specifically designed to meet Turkish requirements for multipurpose helicopters. In protest at Sikorsky's "attitude" and at "Turkey giving too much credit to the Sikorsky offer," Italian AgustaWestland CEO Giuseppe Orsi apparently left the fair, returning home to Italy the same day it opened. In line with its declared goal, Turkey is hoping to increase the share of domestically produced defense equipment in its inventory to at least 50 percent by 2010 and has taken a number of steps to meet this goal, ranging from increasing the funds that will be made available for research and development to working hard to obtain partnerships with large foreign manufacturers for the domestic production of all or portions of their production requirements. Speaking to Today's Zaman, Murad Bayar, head of the Turkish Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM), said Turkey's defense industry has not been affected by the economic crisis. "On the contrary, all arms acquisition projects create employment and support the economy, because the majority of these projects support the local production of systems inside the country. Thus, the money we are spending on defense supports Turkey, easing the effects of the economic crisis," he explained. At a press conference on Monday, Bayar and a number of senior executives from Sikorsky, most famous for its Black Hawk helicopters, discussed plans to make Turkey one of the leading producers of Black Hawks, as well as spare parts and various software products to help optimize maintenance of the helicopters. Bayar said he hoped Sikorsky would be "a partner for life, with no limits in quantity and no limits in time." "Our aim is to strengthen the competence of Turkish aviation in order to become globally competitive," said Stephen Estill, Sikorsky's vice president for strategic partnerships. Sikorsky, which has reported annual revenue of $5 billion, was said by Estill to be growing by about 23 percent per year and, therefore, needs to expand its production if it wants to maintain this healthy growth. A globalized economy with a globalized division of labor is making countries like Turkey all the more desirable as a production location.  "We need partners," Estill said, noting that Sikorsky is looking to expand its production outside of the US and that outsourcing components was especially important.Estill said Sikorsky is seeking to sign risk-sharing programs with Turkey for the production of their new X2 helicopter, which "will outperform any helicopter" with its planned speed of 250-270 knots per hour. At present Sikorsky has three Turkish partners: Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Milsoft and Alp Aviation. Another example of the benefits flowing from the defense industry was seen in the unveiling of an attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter (ATAK) project that will be made in cooperation with TAI and Italy's AgustaWestland. The program will see the joint production of 50 helicopters at the facilities of TAI, the main contractor in the project, with maximum usage of domestic content. 29 April 2009, WednesdayDAVID NEYLAN  İSTANBUL