Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani’s first-ever official visit to Türkiye at the ministerial level included stops at the Istanbul Shipyard, Baykar, and TUSAŞ—boosting defense cooperation and technology partnership prospects.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his delegation visited Baykar’s Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center, where Selçuk and Haluk Bayraktar briefed them on projects; SSB President Haluk Görgün also attended.

While the Turkish Stars flew just 100 meters above ground at 740 km/h, the Göktürk-1 satellite—orbiting 686 km above Earth—captured high-resolution images, showcasing Türkiye’s powerful satellite intelligence capability.

HAVELSAN’s VTOL-capable BAHA, BOZBEY, and BULUT UAVs completed integration tests with ships and USVs; the first deployment will be on Malaysia’s new 99-meter multipurpose vessel.

The HİSAR-D RF missile, launched from TCG İSTANBUL using ROKETSAN’s MİDLAS system, successfully hit its target off Sinop, demonstrating ASELSAN’s full system integration.

ASELSAN announced via the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) that it has signed a $54 million export contract with a customer in the Middle East and Africa for radar and command-control systems.

ASELSAN’s T-Link system will enable Turkey’s land, air, sea, space, and cyber forces to communicate securely and independently—without relying on NATO networks like Link-16.

HAVELSAN is integrating its MAIN Artificial Intelligence Platform into the ADVENT combat management system to enhance decision support, maintenance, and operational processes in naval missions.

Baykar announced that its first production base in Anatolia will be established in Samsun’s Tekkeköy district, creating a regional high-tech and defense industry hub.

Under the SSB-led Offshore Patrol Vessel Project, four new ships will feature fully national helicopter platforms developed and certified through the HeliPLAT–Dearsan partnership.

Bayraktar AKINCI successfully struck its target using ASELSAN’s LGK-82 laser-guided bomb. SSB President Haluk Görgün hailed the test as proof of Turkey’s advanced system integration capability.

Launched under President Erdoğan’s directive, the “National Competence Initiative” has reached 87,061 participants in its first year, empowering thousands through defense industry training programs.