Budapest: Turkish defense firm Nurol Makina has inked a deal to co-produce approximately 800 armored vehicles in Hungary, marking a transition from being a direct supplier to becoming a local European manufacturer. The deal involves the production of the Gidran 4x4 vehicles, a customized version of Nurol Makina's Ejder Yalcin platform, and was recently finalized by the Hungarian Defense Ministry, the Hungarian Armed Forces, and 4iG Space and Defence Technologies.
According to Anadolu Agency, Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban attended the signing ceremony in Budapest, which also saw the presence of Turkish Ambassador to Budapest Gulsen Karanis Eksioglu, Nurol Holding executives Oguz and Gurel Carmikli, Nurol Makina CEO Engin Aykol, and Nurol Makina's Hungarian subsidiary's general manager Mehmet Atak. Nurol Makina will collaborate with Hungarian automaker Raba to produce the additional 800 Gidran vehicles. These will be part of a fleet that includes 106 vehicles previously manufactured in Trkiye and delivered to the Hungarian army.
The production will see some components sourced from the broader EU defense supply chain, while the majority of the vehicles will be built at a newly established plant in Hungary. The deal also includes a comprehensive life-cycle support and maintenance contract for servicing the existing fleet. Nurol Makina had earlier established a local subsidiary in Hungary, forming a joint venture with Raba to facilitate local production. 4iG Space and Defence Technologies holds exclusive distribution rights to supply the vehicles within the Hungarian market until 2030.
Hungarian officials have described the co-production deal as a strategic move for national and regional security. Nurol Makina has been designated as a strategic defense partner, placing it alongside global contractors like CSG and Lockheed Martin. The Gidran four-by-four is noted for its ballistic protection against mines, improvised explosive devices, and lateral blasts, and is equipped with a 375-horsepower engine and a fully independent suspension system. The platform can be configured for various military roles, including personnel transport, recon, and command and control. Nurol Makina's armored vehicles have been operational in the Hungarian army's inventory since 2020.