‘Spectacular’ rise of Turkish defense industry makes global headlines
by Daily Sabah with Agencies
ISTANBUL Mar 09, 2025
The defense industry, as one of the most dominant Turkish sectors, has long left the sphere of being merely a source of domestic ingenuity and pride – to become more of a “global phenomenon” – evident particularly by the growing interest and media coverage on it recently.
One of the latest examples describing the profound rise of the Turkish arms and defense sector came from the French paper Le Monde, which provided details on the major actors in the field in a comprehensive article while also placing an emphasis on the “Made in Türkiye” motto.
The French newspaper stated that the arms sector in Türkiye has reduced significantly its external dependency, citing it accelerated “exponentially” in just few years.
In its news article titled “The Spectacular Rise of the Arms Sector in Türkiye,” Le Monde drew attention to the steps taken in recent years to strengthen the Turkish defense industry.
The news indicated that with the encouragement of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish dependency on foreign materials decreased from 70% to 30% and noted that the Turkish defense industry, consisting of 2,000 companies, employs 100,000 people and exports to approximately 170 countries.
It also said that the average age of the 4,000 people working at Baykar’s Istanbul’s “ultramodern” headquarters, which is considered one of Türkiye’s best arms manufacturers, is 29. It also mentioned that the unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) produced by the company were used in the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as in conflicts in Karabakh and Libya.
The news noted that Baykar’s “flagship TB2 model” is used in around 30 countries, such as Morocco, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Mali, adding: “With seemingly successful results every time. The Ukrainians even dedicated a song to it, to honor it.”
Moreover, the report said that the Turkish army also used these drones against the terrorist organization PKK in northern Iraq in the 2010s, and said: “Since 2016, Baykar has become the leading symbol of Türkiye’s ‘hard power.’ It has not only changed the nature of conflicts, but also allowing the country to rise to power on the world stage.”
The article did not fail to mention the recent agreement for partnership between the company and Italy’s Leonardo, one of the largest defense firms in the world.
“Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will collaborate on the production of combat drones in Italy. This rapprochement will also extend to the field of space technologies,” it said.
‘Nothing left unmanufactured’
The news, which indicated that the Turkish defense industry has shown rapid growth in the last few years, also emphasized that there is “almost nothing left unmanufactured” in the field of defense in Türkiye, from UAVs to fighter jets.
The article also quoted Global Firepower data on the status of armies, mentioning that Türkiye has the ninth strongest army in the world. While behind countries like the U.S., Russia or China, Le Monde said Türkiye was “ahead of Italy (10th), Pakistan (12th), Germany (14th) and Israel (15th).”
Read more on: ‘Spectacular’ rise of Turkish defense industry makes global headlines | Daily Sabah
Read also : 2025 Turkiye Military Strength
Turkey’s Military Budget Set to Reach Record $47 Billion in 2025
By Emre Emehet
October 23, 2024
Turkey is poised to significantly increase its military budget to a record $47 billion in 2025, marking a 17.5% rise from the previous year. This decision comes in response to ongoing regional instability and aims to bolster Turkey’s defense capabilities and independence in military production.
Key Takeaways
- Record Budget: Turkey’s military budget will reach $47 billion in 2025.
- Increase of 17.5%: This marks a substantial increase from 2024’s budget.
- Focus on Domestic Production: A significant portion of the budget will support the domestic defense industry.
- New Military Assets: Turkey plans to introduce new military equipment, including the Altay main battle tank and advanced drones.
Context Behind The Increase
The Turkish Ministry of Defense has attributed this budget increase to the unstable geopolitical climate in the region. As tensions rise, Turkey aims to enhance its military capabilities to maintain its status as a key player in the Middle East.
Investment In Domestic Defense Industry
A notable aspect of the 2025 budget is the allocation of $4.5 billion specifically for the domestic defense industry. This funding will be directed towards research and development initiatives, furthering Turkey’s goal of reducing reliance on foreign military products.
Upcoming Military Developments
Turkey is set to receive several new military assets in 2025, which include:
- Altay Main Battle Tank: A domestically produced tank expected to enhance ground forces.
- New Drones: Continued investment in unmanned aerial vehicles, which have gained popularity in international markets.
- Surface Warships: Launching new naval vessels to strengthen maritime capabilities.
Read more on: Turkey’s Military Budget Set to Reach Record $47 Billion in 2025 | BalkanEU
Turkiye’s defence industry charts a course for European growth
By Tom Waldwyn@twaldwyn, Research Fellow for Defence Procurement
Jan. 20, 2025
Turkish defence companies are continuing to find success in Europe, with significant armoured vehicle and naval contracts signed in 2024, efforts that are supporting Ankara’s goal of enhancing Turkiye’s strategic autonomy and expanding its contribution to European security.
Portugal signed a contract for Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ships in December 2024, with STM as the main contractor
This blog post was first published on the Military Balance+ on 16 January 2025
Turkiye’s defence industry marked another export milestone in December 2024, when STM inked a deal for the design and build of two fleet replenishment ships for the Portuguese Navy. The EUR123 million (USD134.03m) contract is the country’s first sale of naval vessels to a NATO or EU member, and also its first major European defence export beyond the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Ankara will be buoyed by the signs that further orders from European militaries might follow, as the government views exports as supporting its role as a non-EU country in European security and the sustainability of its defence-industrial ambitions.
Growing exports in Europe
At the end of 2024, the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB) – Turkiye’s procurement and defence-industrial strategy agency – announced that ‘defence and aerospace’ exports had reached USD7.15bn, a 29% increase over the previous year. Although official figures do not provide a breakdown by export destination or between the defence and civil aerospace sectors, there are a range of indicators that Turkiye’s defence industry has enjoyed a growth in exports to European countries over the last five years.
Read more on: Turkiye’s defence industry charts a course for European growth
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