New contracts signed with ASELSAN and ROKETSAN bring additional production capacity to ongoing serial production programs for HISAR-A and HISAR-O air defense systems. The agreements were finalized in accordance with the Defense Industry Executive Committee decisions dated February 18, 2026. The total value of these contracts was announced as 1 billion 470 million 500 thousand euros. These steps represent a strategic move to strengthen Turkey's multi-layered air defense architecture within the scope of the STEELSHIELD vision and NATO commitments.

ASELSAN and ROKETSAN are cornerstones of the Turkish defense industry ecosystem. ASELSAN is a leading entity in electronic systems, radar technologies, and air defense integration solutions. ROKETSAN specializes in the design, development, and production of guided munitions and missile systems. Over the past 23 years, Turkish defense industry has established an ecosystem comprising over 4,000 companies and a workforce of 100,000 engineers and technicians capable of meeting the nation's advanced defense requirements. This ecosystem is supported by a dynamic human resource base with an average age below 34 years.

HISAR-A and HISAR-O systems are critical components of Turkey's multi-layered air defense architecture. HISAR-A performs medium-range air defense missions, while HISAR-O provides protection against long-range threats. The STEELSHIELD integration platform unites these systems with other air defense assets such as KORKUT, GÖKER, GÖKBERK, and SİPER in a networked structure, creating an integrated defense architecture that includes radar and electro-optical sensors. This integration ensures high effectiveness in target tracking, identification, and classification.

Turkish defense industry has reached significant milestones in air defense over the past two decades. The HISAR program, initiated in the early 2000s, has been progressively upgraded. The system exemplifies Turkey's engineering capacity and successful localization efforts. Additional serial production contracts aim to sustain this success and increase the system's operational strength. Simultaneously, such investments strengthen the domestic production chain, keeping resources within the country and supporting employment growth.

In the global air defense market, systems operating to NATO standards experience high demand. Alongside foreign systems such as Patriot, NASAMS, and Tor, the HISAR series strengthens Turkey's position in regional and international markets. These systems, with high localization rates, carry export potential and create strategic value for Turkish defense industry. Increased serial production capacity supports both domestic demand fulfillment and market expansion abroad.