As Turkey's defense and aerospace production capacity expands, the role of advanced material technologies supporting this growth becomes increasingly critical. Composite materials, offering lightweight properties, high durability, and design flexibility, have become fundamental components of domestic supply chains and international competitiveness. TURKCOMPOSITE 2026, scheduled for October 21-23 at Istanbul Fair Center, aims to connect composite manufacturers with defense, aerospace, and other industrial sectors that utilize these strategic materials.

Organized in cooperation with KSD and CNG Expo, the exhibition will encompass the entire value chain of the composite industry, from raw materials to finished components, and from production machinery to automation and testing technologies. KSD Chairman Kemal Darcan emphasized in his statement that every platform developed in the defense sector is backed by a robust ecosystem of materials, engineering, and manufacturing. Darcan highlighted that designing and producing advanced materials using domestic capabilities is critical not only for performance enhancement but also for supply chain security, technological independence, and export potential.

Leading Turkish defense and aerospace organizations BAYKAR, HAVELSAN, ROKETSAN, and TUSAŞ are among the exhibition participants. This participation will provide composite manufacturers and technology suppliers with opportunities to directly assess application requirements and develop new partnerships. B2B meetings with representatives from these organizations will take place in the "Composite Live" area, while the Defense Industry Exhibition Area will showcase aircraft and composite application examples for visitors.

Turkey's accumulated expertise in composite design and manufacturing has yielded tangible results in international aviation projects. TUSAŞ's design and manufacturing of composite wing components for the Airbus A350 represents a significant indicator of this competency being recognized at the international level. Such achievements demonstrate that Turkey has reached a position to compete globally in material technology within the defense and aerospace sectors.

Advances in production capability within the sector create new opportunities not only in defense and aerospace but also in automotive, energy, maritime, rail systems, and infrastructure industries. CNG Expo CEO Cengiz Yaman stated that they have designed the exhibition as a business platform with participation from 143 companies and over 200 brands from 25 countries. Yaman explained that through live production demonstrations, specialized exhibition areas, and B2B meetings, they aim to enable participants to directly showcase their solutions and establish new business connections.