Representatives of the Türkiye–United Kingdom defence and aerospace industries met in Ankara on 4 February 2026 for the “SASAD–ADS Industry Day and Türkiye–United Kingdom B2B Meetings,” organised by Savunma ve Havacılık Sanayii İmalatçıları Derneği (SASAD) in cooperation with the UK-based ADS Group.
The event was designed to establish direct contacts between companies from Türkiye and the United Kingdom, providing a structured platform to explore new cooperation opportunities and to further deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries. British defence and technology firms held one-to-one meetings with Turkish industry representatives, focusing on concrete and near-term collaboration prospects.
Participating UK companies included BAE Systems, GE Aerospace, Leonardo UK, Palantir Technologies, ZeroAvia, IMI Truflo Marine, Renishaw, EXFO Europe, Callen-Lenz and Epiq Design Solutions. The Turkish defence industry was represented by ASARTECH, ASELSAN, ASFAT, AYESAŞ, BEYOND Teknoloji, DORÇE Prefabrik, FNSS, HAVELSAN, KALE Jet Engines, MES Makine, MSB, OSSA, ROKETSAN, SSB, STM, THY Teknik, TÜBİTAK SAGE and TUSAŞ.
B2B discussions focused in particular on sustainable aviation, digital defence technologies and advanced manufacturing solutions, reflecting shared priorities across both industrial ecosystems. SASAD Chairman Osman Okyay stated that the objective is to strengthen Türkiye’s indigenous industrial capabilities by anchoring them in long-term international partnerships.
A reception was held on 3 February 2026, one day prior to the main event, hosted by the British Embassy in Ankara. Organised jointly by SASAD and ADS Group, the reception provided an additional platform for informal exchange and experience sharing. British Ambassador to Türkiye Jill Morris also addressed guests, underlining the importance of developing bilateral relations between the two countries.