HAVELSAN plays a pioneering role in simulator technology development within Turkey's defense industry. At TEKNOFEST's KÜRE Talks, HAVELSAN General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar presented the company's domestic and national transformation journey in simulator technology. Nacar emphasized that Turkey's defense industry has achieved an 80 percent localization rate and highlighted the production of strategic systems for various platforms including aircraft, helicopters, submarines, and manned and unmanned ground and air vehicles.

HAVELSAN's corporate journey in simulator technology began with maintenance and support of systems previously procured from abroad. Simulators for F-4 aircraft, Sikorsky and Cougar helicopters, and U209 submarines were sourced externally for many years. However, from 2015 onward, the transition to domestic systems accelerated, with HAVELSAN filling a strategic gap in this domain. The company's developed simulator portfolio directly contributes to Turkey's defense industry ecosystem's localization objectives.

Key milestones in domestic simulator transformation began in 2017 with the delivery of the ATAK helicopter simulator. Subsequently, HAVELSAN delivered civil simulators to Turkish Airlines and engineering simulators for Hürkuş, Hürjet, and KAAN platforms. Simulators play a critical role in pilot training, enabling pilots to complete mandatory refresher training every six months or annually. When these training sessions are not completed in simulators, pilot licenses are suspended, making simulators indispensable tools for operational aviation.

The networking capabilities provided by simulator technology form the foundation of modern training infrastructure. HAVELSAN has enabled F-16 pilots to conduct formation flights in the same virtual environment through full-mission simulators developed for the platform. Full-mission F-16 simulators stationed at bases in Merzifon, Balıkesir, and Eskişehir allow unified virtual airspace training and exercises through network integration. Such system integrations enhance training efficiency while strengthening operational readiness. Nacar stated that HAVELSAN has developed over 400 simulators and holds a leading position in Europe in terms of diversity.

The future of simulator technology is being shaped by virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence, and neurological measurement systems. HAVELSAN is developing simulators using virtual reality headsets; however, current technology exhibits side effects such as vertigo and image distortion, leading pilots to prefer screen-based visuals. Artificial intelligence-powered virtual pilots are transforming the instructor pilot concept and automating cognitive workload management. Through neurological sensors, pilot performance can be analyzed from brain signals, enabling objective measurement of reflex formation. These developments increase training effectiveness while grounding pilot preparation on scientific foundations.