Türkiye continues to achieve new milestones in its homegrown defence industry. Technologies developed through the dedication of Turkish engineers and manufacturing workers are strengthening our country’s defence capabilities while gaining traction in international markets. Defence and aerospace exports reached US$6.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, providing a tangible measure of this success. (SSB, 7 September 2026)
From drawing boards to production lines, and from testing grounds to the skies, these efforts are expanding Türkiye’s defence industry expertise. Behind this success lie years of work by engineers, technicians and workers. The ability to meet our country’s needs through its own knowledge and manufacturing capabilities makes this national defence endeavour a particular source of pride for us all.
According to figures released by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), the sector’s exports rose by 16.2% to US$6.3 billion in January–August 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. Exports over the preceding 12 months, as of August, increased by 29.3% to US$10.9 billion. Türkiye’s defence and aerospace industry continued to expand in international markets in 2026. (SSB, 7 September 2026)
Export growth has been accompanied by new flights and deliveries of nationally developed platforms. In its early September announcement, the SSB reported the delivery of the first GÖKBEY helicopter to the General Directorate of Security. It also announced that the HÜRJET aircraft being prepared for delivery to the Turkish Air Force Command had successfully completed its 18-minute maiden flight. Both developments marked important steps towards preparing these products of Turkish engineering for operational service. (SSB, 7 September 2026)
Türkiye’s success is also evident in international comparisons. A study published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in March 2026 ranked Türkiye as the world’s 11th-largest exporter of major arms for 2021–2025. Its export volume increased by 122% compared with the preceding five-year period, while its global share rose from 0.9% to 1.8%. Global transfer volumes grew by 9.2% over the same comparison period, highlighting the scale of Türkiye’s progress. SIPRI’s comparison measures the volume of major arms deliveries, rather than sales revenue in US dollars. (SIPRI, March 2026)
These results are supported by a broad industrial base and a substantial workforce. In his STRATCOM address in March 2026, President of Defence Industries Haluk Görgün stated that Türkiye’s defence and aerospace sector encompassed more than 4,000 companies and over 100,000 direct jobs. According to Görgün, the domestic content rate, which was below 20% in the final quarter of the 20th century, had risen to more than 80%. (Directorate of Communications of the Presidency, 28 March 2026)
Every capability gained in domestic production matters to Türkiye’s goal of developing technologies that meet its own needs. In the same address, Görgün identified the transfer of field experience into industry, rapid adaptation in production and a skilled workforce as key elements of Türkiye’s success. (Directorate of Communications of the Presidency, 28 March 2026)
Pride in our national defence industry is rooted in trust in the knowledge and hard work of this country’s people. Every technology developed, every test completed and every delivery made is the result of sustained effort. The mark Türkiye is making on the world is the achievement of that shared endeavour.
