Faruk Özlü, Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s National Defense Committee and AK Party Deputy for Düzce, highlighted the deep structural transformation Türkiye has achieved in its defense industry over the last 13 years. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Özlü emphasized that Türkiye is no longer merely a consumer of technology but a nation capable of producing advanced defense technologies, accelerating its rise as a regional and global actor.

Özlü noted that several major defense companies will undergo structural reforms, including converting institutions such as the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) into joint-stock companies. This transformation aims to increase flexibility, competitiveness and production efficiency. He stated that a number of ongoing defense projects are approaching the end of their design phases and will soon enter serial production. Among the most notable are the Altay main battle tank and the domestically developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are expected to join the Turkish Armed Forces inventory in the near future.

Türkiye’s security doctrine has also evolved significantly during this period. Özlü underlined that the country no longer stands by passively when regional crises unfold; rather, it actively engages and takes clear positions. This shift, he explained, is largely due to the extensive modernization program implemented within the Turkish Armed Forces, which has strengthened military capabilities and provided strategic flexibility. “Because we have modernized our army so effectively over the past 13 years, Türkiye’s hand is now much stronger,” he noted.

Addressing the integration of missiles onto UAV platforms, Özlü stated that such efforts have been ongoing for a long time, and recent tests have shown positive results. Türkiye’s early decisions to develop armed UAVs are now paying off, marking a significant leap in indigenous defense capability. Özlü concluded by emphasizing that Türkiye is rapidly moving into the group of the world’s top ten defense industry powers.