Engin Aykol, General Manager of Nurol Makina ve Sanayi A.Ş., said that C4Defence reaching its 150th issue is a sign of consistent, high-quality publishing in the defence industry. In our interview, Aykol stressed that the company aims to give its users the best possible support against threats evolving in the field, and to keep making a difference in the defence industry. The global reputation and innovations of Nurol Makina vehicles play a key role in this mission. “We aim to take our position in the global market, where we are already strong, even further over the next five years,” he said.
C4Defence: C4Defence has reached its 150th issue. In your view, how important are long-running publications in the defence sector? As Nurol Makina, what kind of bond have you built with the media on this journey?
Engin Aykol, General Manager of Nurol Makina ve Sanayi A.Ş.: First of all, C4Defence reaching its 150th issue is an achievement of consistent, quality publishing in the defence industry, and I sincerely congratulate the whole team on this occasion. The defence sector is a delicate meeting point of high technology, strategic vision and geopolitical balances. For this reason, it is very important that the sector is presented to the public with accurate information, in an impartial and in-depth manner. As Nurol Makina, we have long maintained strong communication with respected publications such as C4Defence. Since 1992, we have had the opportunity to share the innovative solutions we have developed for the defence industry with both our domestic and international stakeholders through the media. For us, the media is not merely a promotional channel; it is a bridge built on trust with our users, our business partners and the public. I would like to thank the users who have chosen us throughout this process and the stakeholders whose support we have always felt.
C4Defence: Today, Nurol Makina vehicles serve in many different parts of the world. Which features of platforms such as the Ejder Yalçın and Yörük have brought this international success? What advantages stand out most in field feedback?
Engin Aykol: Nurol Makina’s vehicles are actively serving in more than 20 countries across a wide geography, from Africa to the Middle East and from Europe to Asia. This international success rests on the core design philosophy of our platforms: high protection, superior mobility and modularity. For us, every vehicle is a unique engineering solution born out of demanding needs in the field.
Our vehicles offer reliability in harsh terrain conditions while adapting easily to different mission profiles. For example, the Ejder Yalçın stands out with its high level of protection against mine and ballistic threats, while also delivering superior performance in different mission scenarios thanks to its agility and high manoeuvrability. The NMS-L stands out in reconnaissance and rapid response missions with its light and agile structure, while the Yörük offers its users solutions suited to different protection levels and mission requirements thanks to its scalable armour technology. These features make our vehicles indispensable in both conventional and asymmetric warfare environments.
Feedback from the field is the strongest indicator of our success. Three key advantages are consistently highlighted in the comments from our users. First, our vehicles can operate in extreme conditions, from desert heat to snowy mountains, with optimal maintenance requirements. As you know, the Ejder Yalçın in particular has taken part in many critical missions and has been successful in protecting personnel. Second, operational flexibility: modular structures allow users to quickly adapt the vehicles to different missions, which also eases logistics processes.
When developing new configurations, we put user needs at the centre and draw inspiration from their experiences in the field. In this way, we are building not just a product but a long-term partnership of trust.
C4Defence: The eNMS-L project showcased Nurol Makina’s innovative vision despite the challenges of electrification in land vehicles. Do you see such projects more as a technology showcase, or as a gateway to hybrid and future solutions? What are your forecasts for the future of propulsion systems?
Engin Aykol: The eNMS-L project is a strong reflection of Nurol Makina’s technology-driven vision. We see this project not merely as an electric vehicle initiative, but as a strategic step that shows we are an innovative technology company in the defence industry. Our aim is to demonstrate that we can successfully integrate transformative technologies such as electrification into our own platforms, and to showcase our engineering capability in this field.
With features such as silent operation capability and low thermal and acoustic signatures, this platform meets the requirements of the modern battlefield, while also representing an important step in terms of sustainability, energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Hybrid systems, which balance the advantages of electrification with operational endurance, will increasingly find a place, particularly in reconnaissance and special mission platforms. As Nurol Makina, we aim to be one of the pioneers of this transformation.
C4Defence: Your different platforms serve different mission types. Which operational needs (peace support, border security, urban operations, etc.) do you expect to come to the fore in your product development strategy in the coming period?
Engin Aykol: At the centre of Nurol Makina’s product development strategy are our users’ changing operational needs. Our platforms are flexible enough to serve across a wide spectrum, from peacekeeping operations and border security to rapid urban response and reconnaissance missions. This flexibility is the result of both our engineering approach and our user-focused design philosophy.
Our user-focused approach allows our products to be modular and versatile, so we can adapt quickly to different needs. As Nurol Makina, we will continue to support our customers’ operational success with innovative and reliable solutions. Our goal is to give our users the best possible support against threats evolving in the field and to keep making a difference in the defence industry.
C4Defence: You have recently introduced new configurations at trade fairs; the Ejder Yalçın Extended Wheelbase (EWB), for example, drew attention. What will be Nurol Makina’s strategic priorities over the next five years to strengthen its position in the global market?
Engin Aykol: As Nurol Makina, we have recently showcased, at international trade fairs, solutions for our users’ different operational needs with new configurations such as the Ejder Yalçın EWB and the NMS EWB. These platforms demonstrate not only our product diversity but also our engineering capability and user-focused approach. We aim to take our position in the global market, where we are already strong, even further over the next five years.
R&D and innovation are at the heart of our growth strategy. We will continue to develop flexible and reliable platforms that can respond to the rapidly changing dynamics of modern combat environments. In addition, we see user feedback as a guide not only for product development but across our entire service chain. By continuously improving our training, logistics support and maintenance services, we aim to strengthen long-term satisfaction and trust.
Going forward, our goal is not only to enter new markets but also to create areas of joint development with our existing and potential users on how we can take our platforms further. In this context, we are also working in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital twin technologies. Our aim is to remain an innovative and reliable solution partner that shapes not only today’s battlefield but also that of the future.
Note: The Turkish original lists “three key advantages” in the field-feedback answer but only spells out two (maintenance/endurance in extreme conditions, and operational flexibility). I translated it as written; you may want to check with the source whether a third point was left out.
Originally published in Turkish in C4Defence magazine, Issue 150.
