A Model of Technological Learning in Marine Industries of the Defense Sector

Technological learning constitutes a main pivot in the technological enabling in industries and sectors of different countries like defense sector. As a part of this, maritime industries are one the most important sectors in the defense where strengthening and equipping them leads to enhancing the level of defense authority of the country. The present article seeks to conduct a comparative study of the progress trend of the shipbuilding industries of Japan, South Korea and China as pioneer countries, and those of Turkey and Brazil as developing countries, compare the findings with the industry under study inside the country, and finally provide a model of technological learning in the maritime industries of the defense sector. The approach in the present research is qualitative using case study method as the research strategy. The data were collected through conducting 13 deep and semi-structured interviews with specialists of maritime industries in defence. The findings of the research indicate that the maritime industries of the defence sector have the needed capability to develop and design the required equipments in a completely indigenous manner. On the other hand, considering the conditions that govern the country and the defence industries, learning is mostly informal, and the maritime industries will have the potentiality to move along the borders of science in case an infrastructure is developed for formal learning. Anyway, it can be said that despite remarkable advancements in recent years, it is necessary to have an integrated, codified and updated plan in line with the increasing development of the maritime industries of the defence sector.