Japan’s Minister of Defense, Gen Nakatani, paid an official visit to Baykar, accompanied by a high-level delegation. According to a post shared on Baykar’s official social media account, the delegation was welcomed at the Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center, where both sides discussed potential cooperation in defense and aerospace technologies. The visit reflected the increasing international interest in Türkiye’s indigenous defense capabilities and the growing potential for Turkish-Japanese collaboration in advanced unmanned systems.

Baykar’s Chairman of the Board Selçuk Bayraktar and General Manager Haluk Bayraktar provided detailed briefings on the company’s achievements, including its autonomous UAV technologies, mission software, data link systems, and command-control architecture. The Japanese delegation was also given an overview of Baykar’s production and integration facilities, research and development processes, and operational successes in various international theaters. The meeting underscored Baykar’s position as a leading innovator in the global UAV industry.

The visit was also attended by Haluk Görgün, President of Türkiye’s Defense Industry Agency (SSB), highlighting the institutional and diplomatic significance of the engagement. Discussions were reported to have focused on cooperation opportunities in technology sharing, joint testing, and certification, as well as training and field validation areas. The inclusion of the SSB in these talks demonstrated a broader intent to establish long-term, multi-level collaboration between Türkiye and Japan in the defense sector.

Türkiye’s rapidly growing defense and aerospace ecosystem continues to attract global attention. High-level visits such as this not only strengthen bilateral relations but also pave the way for partnerships in export, co-development, and innovation. Baykar’s emphasis on mission-oriented R&D and internationally certified production standards continues to build bridges with allied and partner nations, reinforcing Türkiye’s position as a key player in the global defense technology landscape.