The 5th military and Aerospace sector Global Strategies Conference began in Antalya. Senior government officials and leaders from the military sector came together to look at Türkiye’s export performance and set goals for 2026.

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, Head of the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB) Haluk Görgün, Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin, ASELSAN CEO Ahmet Akyol, and TUSAŞ CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu were all at the conference. There were also many other high-ranking military and business officials there.

Haluk Görgün noted in his speech that Türkiye’s defence and aerospace business has passed past a stage where manufacturing capacity was the only thing that mattered. Now, sustainability, export continuity, and international integration are the most important factors. He said that in 2026 the focus would still be on increasing international collaboration and keeping exports going.

Görgün said that the Secretariat of Defence Industries is in charge of planning the Defence Industry Forum, which will take place in Ankara in July at the same time as the NATO Leaders’ Summit. He also said that he will be taking part in international events including the NATO Edge Exercise and Exhibition and the 2026 Munich Security Conference. At the same time, the Government-to-Government Military Sales model will be fully in place by 2026. The rules and institutions for this model were finished last year.

Görgün added that defence and aerospace exports hit USD 10.54 billion in 2025, a 48 percent rise from the previous year. Europe got $4.3 billion in exports, and the Middle East got $1.6 billion. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Slovakia became the most popular places to go. In 2022, the industry made up 1.7% of all of Türkiye’s products exports. By 2025, that number had grown to 3.6%. Along with delivering exports, military businesses signed new contracts of USD 17.9 billion in 2025, which is a 79% increase from the previous year.

Görgün said that close government support for international marketing activities boosts trust among foreign decision-makers. He also urged businesses to keep in touch with the Secretariat, especially its International Cooperation Directorate, while they are working to grow their business and make sales abroad. He highlighted that exporters, especially small and medium-sized businesses, will continue to obtain help 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including tailored help and positive discrimination when needed.

Referring to NATO’s decision in The Hague to gradually raise defence spending to five percent of national GDP, Görgün said this would translate into approximately USD 50 billion in additional annual defence expenditure across 32 allied countries. He described this as a major opportunity window for Turkish defence firms in Europe and North America and encouraged companies to pursue partnerships, benefit from EU funding mechanisms and, where feasible, consider acquisitions in Europe. He also warned against destructive competition among Turkish firms in overseas tenders, urging joint bids and partnership models, with the Secretariat ready to act as coordinator and arbitrator.

 

During the conference, Türkiye’s defence export champions were also announced. In unmanned aerial systems, export leadership was held by Baykar, TUSAŞ and STM. Land systems exports were led by Otokar, Nurol Makina and BMC. In military electronics, ASELSAN and Boğaziçi Savunma stood out, while naval platform exports were led by ASFAT, HAVELSAN and METEKSAN. Aviation exports were driven by TUSAŞ, TEI and ALP Havacılık, while weapons systems exports were led by Arca Savunma, Samsun Yurt Savunma and MKE A.Ş..