One of the leading companies of the Turkish defense industry, ASELSAN, has reached a historic milestone in production and delivery capabilities. Speaking at the Defense Industry Talent Management Summit organized by the Presidency of Defense Industries’ Defense Industry Academy within the scope of the National Competency Initiative, ASELSAN CEO Ahmet Akyol shared key insights into the company’s current performance and future strategy.

Akyol emphasized that the traditional question once directed at the defense industry — “Can you do it?” — is no longer relevant. Instead, the sector now faces a more advanced and demanding question: “When and how much can you deliver?” According to Akyol, this shift clearly demonstrates the maturity level reached by the Turkish defense industry. He noted that while research and development and innovation remain essential, production speed, supply chain efficiency, and large-scale manufacturing have become equally critical priorities.

Highlighting the tangible results of recent investments, Akyol stated that ASELSAN achieved a 40% increase in production capacity across its facilities. As a result, a total of 286,000 products were delivered directly to customers and end users within a single year. These deliveries included 100,000 city security cameras, 70,000 smart munitions, more than 70,000 military radios, over 5,000 electro-optical systems, more than 2,000 guided munitions, nearly 1,000 electronic warfare systems, close to 500 radar systems, and almost 100 ÇELİKKUBBE components and large-scale defense systems. These figures underline ASELSAN’s transformation into a company capable not only of advanced development but also of high-volume serial production.

Akyol explained that the company’s internal transformation is being driven by the “ASELSAN Next” program, which places exports at the center of its strategic agenda. Mobilizing a workforce of approximately 13,000 employees, ASELSAN has made export growth a primary objective. This strategy has already yielded strong results, with domestic contracts increasing by 50% and export contracts surging by 171% in the first nine months of the year.

Addressing leadership and management practices, Akyol stressed the importance of strategic alignment, a holistic management approach, and effective delegation of authority. He noted that ASELSAN applies a multi-stage professional management selection system, enabling greater responsibility and risk-taking at lower and middle management levels. Akyol also highlighted the value of incorporating perspectives from multiple disciplines into decision-making processes, particularly in an engineering-driven organization.

Concluding his remarks, Akyol stated that ASELSAN’s current focus on mass production and exports is a direct response to global geopolitical developments and Türkiye’s strategic defense needs, positioning the company as a stronger and more competitive player in the global defense market.