24.01.2025 14:42
It was stated that Turkey has changed the concepts of warfare with the defense industry products it has produced recently. The Turkish defense industry is expected to experience its golden age in 2024, and the domestically produced products have become a preferred choice for many countries. Turkey has risen to the 11th position among countries exporting defense industry products.
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Recently, Turkey has changed the concepts of warfare with the defense industry products it has produced, becoming a shield for the security of friendly, brotherly, and allied countries with its exports. While the Turkish defense industry is experiencing its golden age in 2024, the domestically produced national products have become a preferred choice for many countries. During this period, Turkey rose to the 11th place among countries exporting to the defense industry worldwide, thanks to all its activities from mass production to R&D, innovation to technology management, and the high-level experience it has gained.
EXPORT RACE IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY
The increase in exports on a platform basis was reflected in the figures. Turkey's defense and aerospace industry exports reached a new record of 7 billion 154 million dollars last year. The economic contribution of the systems delivered only to the domestic market last year was recorded as a minimum of 40 billion dollars.
EXPORT FROM LAND TO AIR
During this period, more than 4,500 land vehicles were exported to 40 countries, corvettes to 3 countries, over 140 naval platforms to more than 10 countries, munitions and missiles to 42 countries, and 770 UAVs, armed UAVs, and tactical UAVs to over 50 countries.
Additionally, 1,200 electro-optical systems and stabilized weapon systems were exported to 24 countries, attack helicopters to 8 countries, radars to 10 countries, various sizes of weapons, rifles, and pistols to 111 countries, 1,500 kamikaze drones to 11 countries, and HÜRKUŞ to 2 countries. Many new products are also on the radar of various countries. Haluk Görgün, President of the Presidency of Defense Industries, stated at the annual evaluation meeting, "We have gone beyond producing products across the entire spectrum and have exported them. We have the capability to meet needs wherever they may arise."
THE MOST EXPORTS TO EUROPE
Last year, the R&D budget in the defense industry approached a total of 3 billion dollars, while the domestic production rate exceeded 80%. Additionally, the project volume exceeding 100 billion dollars showed a 29% increase compared to 2023. In exports, it is aimed for the mentioned 7 billion 154 million dollars to reach double digits within 2 years. Nearly 300 products are exported to over 180 countries, with the highest sales made to Europe. The highest demand from Europe came for UAVs, smart missiles, land vehicles, weapon towers, military ships, aircraft and helicopter structures, as well as radars and simulators.
TURKEY IS INVOLVED IN MANY NATO PROJECTS
With more than 3,500 companies operating in the defense industry and over 1,100 active projects, Turkey applied for the most NATO projects last year compared to previous periods. The ASELFLIR-500 system produced by ASELSAN demonstrated the ability to be exported to 16 countries in 2024 when it went into mass production. The export of military ships to Portugal was also recorded as a significant success in 2024.
DOMESTIC ENGINES IN THE PRODUCTION STAGE
After a successful 2024, new records in production and exports are expected this year. It is anticipated that at least 3 ALTAY tanks will come out of mass production and be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces this year. Efforts are ongoing to produce the engine of the ALTAY tank domestically and nationally. There are also engines developed for missiles, and Turkey is gaining the capability to produce the engines it needs one by one. In this context, efforts are ongoing to produce the engine of the national combat aircraft KAAN with domestic and national resources. To complete the tests of KAAN more quickly, 6 prototypes are being produced. The production process of the second KAAN is ongoing.
DOMESTIC ENGINE FOR DOMESTIC HELICOPTER
The engine of the GÖKBEY helicopter is also planned to be domestic and national. At Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ), testing activities for the thermal model of the GÖKTÜRK-2 renewal satellite have begun. Contracts for the MILKAR and MILKED projects in satellite communication and electronic warfare systems will also be signed during this period. The first deliveries of HÜRKUŞ aircraft will also take place this year.
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