08.05.2026 16:54
President Erdoğan, speaking at the SAHA EXPO 2026 International Defense, Aviation and Space Industry Fair at the Istanbul Fair Center, stated, "Today, Turkey is a country that builds next-generation fighter jets, drones, electronic warfare systems, tanks, and warships, and develops software and its own systems in every field from the depths of the sea to the void of space. Turkey has the power to break the wrist of those who would challenge its independence."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements at the SAHA EXPO 2026 International Defense, Aviation and Space Industry Fair at the Istanbul Fair Center.
In his speech, Erdoğan said, "Today, Türkiye is a country that produces its next-generation national combat aircraft, unmanned combat aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and armed UAVs; develops electronic warfare systems, satellite technology, air defense systems, and radars; manufactures and builds its tanks, rockets, missiles, armored vehicles, warships, and unmanned naval vehicles." He added, "In short, it is a country that can create its own software, platforms, and systems bearing its signature at every level, from the depths of the sea to the void of space. Türkiye is a state that has more than enough power and strength to break the wrist of any hostile element daring to target its independence and future."
Emphasizing that Türkiye is one of the founding actors of the new era, Erdoğan stated, "We have all witnessed how the battlefield is transforming across a wide spectrum, from unmanned vehicles to autonomous systems, from decision-support mechanisms to next-generation technologies. And we continue to do so. Today, I want to express with great pride that one of the founding actors of this new era, where conventional power elements are replaced by multi-layered and integrated systems, is undoubtedly Türkiye."
Highlights from Erdoğan's statements;
"I am delighted to be with you at this meaningful program of 2026. I welcome the esteemed ministers, deputy ministers, chiefs of general staff, force commanders, delegation members, and all our visitors from different parts of the world participating in SAHA 2026. I wish that our fair, held under our auspices and now a brand in its field, brings blessings to our defense sector and all participating companies. I congratulate all our institutions, companies, and sponsors who contributed to the execution of this fair, which includes over 1,700 firms from 120 countries. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all our companies showcasing their products in the fields of land, naval, aviation, space, and security.
"TARGET: FULLY INDEPENDENT TÜRKİYE IN DEFENSE"
The defense industry has become an ecosystem that is not only sought after in its region but globally, inspiring trust, attracting attention, and being preferred. Türkiye has proudly inscribed its name among the countries whose star shines brightly in defense, aviation, and space on a global scale. Behind this success table lies decades of effort, the dedication of over 100,000 patriotic sons and daughters working day and night with a devoted spirit, the support of our nation, and the will of our state. Inshallah, we will be in even better places. We will write greater success stories together. We will work without stopping or pausing until we achieve the goal of a fully independent Türkiye in the defense industry.
Dear guests, my very valuable friends. While our world is changing rapidly, our defense industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Naturally, the concept of security is also affected by this. First of all, we can all see this: Today, at the point we have reached, security can no longer be confined to a single area, a single field, or a single industry branch. Security is a holistic concept in every aspect, from the factory to the testing process, from the data center to academia, from the supply chain to feedback. Likewise, today, a country's deterrence has long surpassed the threshold of being measured by the number of platforms it possesses. What matters is with which software you manage the platforms in your inventory, which sensors you use on them, which engines you develop for these products, and which ammunition you can produce and how quickly. How prepared you are against cyberattacks, electronic warfare threats, unmanned systems, and hybrid warfare methods is decisive. We are witnessing these realities once again in the recent war and conflict environments in our region and the world.
"TÜRKİYE IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING ACTORS OF THE NEW ERA"
We have all witnessed how the battlefield is transforming across a wide spectrum, from unmanned vehicles to autonomous systems, from decision-support mechanisms to next-generation technologies. And we continue to do so. Today, I want to express with great pride that one of the founding actors of this new era, where conventional power elements are replaced by multi-layered and integrated systems, is undoubtedly Türkiye.
"WE HAVE THE POWER TO BREAK THE WRIST OF THOSE WHO EYE OUR FUTURE"
Today, Türkiye is a country that produces its next-generation national combat aircraft, unmanned combat aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and armed UAVs; develops electronic warfare systems, satellite technology, air defense systems, and radars; manufactures and builds its tanks, rockets, missiles, armored vehicles, warships, and unmanned naval vehicles. In short, it is a country that can create its own software, platforms, and systems bearing its signature at every level, from the depths of the sea to the void of space. Türkiye is a state that has more than enough power and strength to break the wrist of any hostile element daring to target its independence and future.
Dear friends. Both the proud products exhibited at SAHA 2026 and our export figures announced last week clearly explain what we mean while also demonstrating the level our country has reached. You have already seen the products, projects, designs, and works that would take not hours but days to list individually. You have personally witnessed what can be achieved when faith, will, courage, effort, dedication, and vision come together. We see the same proud picture on the export side as well. Look, when we came to office, our defense and aviation exports were only $248 million annually. Türkiye was a country 80% dependent on external sources in the defense industry. We reversed this by reducing our foreign dependency over the years. In 2025, for the first time in our history, we exceeded $10 billion in defense and aviation exports.
"WE FOUGHT THE SABOTAGES OF TROJAN HORSES"
Of course, I want to emphasize this fact carefully. Writing this success story, which fills our nation's chest with pride and gives confidence to our friends, brothers, and allies, was not easy. We faced countless visible and invisible obstacles. Our path was blocked with embargoes and restrictions. There were days when systems we paid for were not delivered. We suffered from betrayals, conspiracies, and operations aimed at breaking our hopes, not only from outside or from those we considered friends, but also from within. We fought the sabotages of Trojan horses embedded and placed among us, sometimes appearing righteous.
What is extremely striking here is that whenever Türkiye broke its shell or took a major step in the defense industry, someone immediately stepped in."
"Don't come up with new inventions," they said. "It's easier to buy from abroad," they said. "It's not economically feasible," they said. "Defense industry investments are inefficient," they said. Sometimes by twisting economic data, sometimes by targeting our national companies, sometimes by belittling, and sometimes with ridiculous arguments like 'The fish are getting scared,' they tried to block our defense industry moves.
"THOSE WHO SAID 'THE FISH ARE GETTING SCARED' CAME TO VISIT OUR FAIR"
We paid no heed to any of this. Those who said "The fish are getting scared" came and visited our fair. But they saw that the fish probably weren't scared. We did not allow defeated characters, suffering from learned helplessness syndrome, to pull us into their soulless, hopeless, and horizonless worlds. We gave our answer to those who said "You can't do it" with products we have developed, completed, and successfully tested on battlefields, just as we did today at SAHA 2026.
On the path where Nuri Killigil, Şakir Zümre, and Vecihi Hürkuş risked their lives and walked patiently, we have, thank God, reached today's levels in the defense industry. Today, I once again commemorate the pioneers of the Turkish defense industry, including our late brother Özdemir Bayraktar, with mercy, and may God be pleased with them all. The flag that Vecihi Hürkuş raised in aviation years ago, the late Özdemir Bayraktar raised to the peaks in unmanned aerial vehicles, waving it with great pride in the skies. I believe that those who follow in his footsteps will rightfully take care of this legacy and continue to elevate the honor of the Turkish defense industry.
THE TERROR-FREE TURKEY PROCESS
Dear guests, very valuable brothers. Beyond the defense industry and deterrence, another critical link of national security is the unity and solidarity of the nation, which we define as the internal front. It is a fact that the stronger the national body, the more robust and powerful a country's security becomes. It is not easy to subdue or force to its knees a people who have united in destiny and future, rallied around common values, and devoted themselves to the same ideals through external interventions. But if there is a leak inside, if a breach has opened on the internal front, if the inside is bleeding profusely, then the nation cannot stand. The late Mehmet Akif expressed this in his speech at Nasrullah Mosque during the hottest days of our War of Independence: 'Nations are not destroyed by cannons, rifles, armored vehicles, armies, or airplanes. Nations are destroyed only when the bonds between them dissolve, and each person falls into the concern of his own trouble, his own mood, and his own interest.' As yesterday, today and tomorrow, this is the crux of the matter.
Now look, dear brothers. Almost every period of our millennia-long history has been spent in struggle. We won every struggle we waged as both a state and a nation by fortifying our internal front. At times, we made the sound of cannons a lullaby for our children. At times, we went hungry. We went thirsty. We were unarmed. We were without ammunition. But we never lost our faith. We did not succumb to despair. We never compromised our unity and integrity. We did not surrender to the dirty hands reaching out to our sanctity. Throughout our governments, we repelled numerous attacks, coup attempts, and sieges targeting our existence with this very spirit. Here, I must state with great determination: The most strategic step we are taking today to fortify our internal citadel is the Terror-free Turkey process, now in its 18th month, and the goal of a terror-free region.
"THE GUIDE ON THE PATH TO THE TERROR-FREE TURKEY RANGE IS THE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE"
The Terror-free Turkey process is the name of a great vision that aims to build a peaceful, safe, prosperous, and peace-dominated future by strengthening Turkey and neighboring countries along with their internal fronts. Terror-free Turkey is a fortified position established in the consciousness and heart of our nation against the struggle for sharing waged in our region. The intellectual and political common headquarters of this position is, of course, the People's Alliance. The guide on the path to the terror-free Turkey range is likewise the People's Alliance. The catalyst of the process is the goals that the Turkish nation has long deserved to achieve. This goal can be reached not with stereotypical patterns, but with prudent, courageous steps and the self-confidence provided by being a great nation and state. Turkey, with its state and nation, after nearly half a century of successful struggle, has demonstrated the will to be rid of terrorism and has shown a very clear stance for a terror-free Turkey.
"THERE IS NO TURNING BACK FROM THIS, AND THERE WILL BE NONE"
At the foundation of this will is the sacred memory and blessed legacy of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for their homeland and nation. At the foundation of this will is the fortitude of mothers and fathers who laid their children in the bosom of the black earth, saying 'Long live the homeland,' and buried their pain in their hearts. At the foundation of this will are the wives of martyrs, children of martyrs, and our relatives of martyrs. There are the sacrifices of our veterans. By God's permission, there is no turning back from this, and there will be none. By firmly establishing a climate of affection and strengthening the consciousness of brotherhood, by demolishing walls of hostility one by one and eradicating the roots of sedition, and by completely lifting the bloody and dark shadow of terrorism, along with its causes, from these lands, we will, God willing, show the whole world together that the sacrifices of our martyrs and veterans were not in vain. We believe. With God's permission, we will succeed. We are determined. God willing, we will reach our goal. May God make our path and fortune clear.
With these thoughts, I wish for SAHA 2026 to be auspicious once more. I once again congratulate all our institutions that contributed to the organization of the fair and everyone who contributed, and I thank our participating companies. I greet you once again with respect and love. Stay well, stay alive, stay healthy. "