Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır made striking remarks during a live television broadcast regarding the level Türkiye has reached in the defense industry. Kacır emphasized that Türkiye has gained a significant advantage in areas such as kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous swarm systems, missile technologies, and radar capabilities, all of which have become increasingly prominent on the modern battlefield. He underlined that Türkiye is now among the most experienced countries in the world in unmanned systems, noting that this success was shaped by the priority given to unmanned aviation during the country’s counterterrorism efforts.

Kacır stated that leading defense companies such as Baykar, TUSAŞ, and ASELSAN have helped carry Türkiye to a powerful global position with the systems and products they have developed. Pointing out that Türkiye holds a 65 percent share of the global military unmanned aerial vehicle market, Kacır said this clearly demonstrates the level reached by the country’s domestic and national defense industry. He also stressed that the Turkish defense sector has a remarkably high product development speed, with new and original systems emerging almost every few weeks. According to Kacır, Türkiye aims to further deepen its existing capabilities in unmanned systems, missile systems, and radar technologies while at the same time increasing serial production capacity in the coming period.

One of the most notable topics in Kacır’s remarks was the “Steel Dome” project. He described Steel Dome as a “system of systems” and said Türkiye already possesses strong assets against a wide range of threats. He stated that all air defense systems that have been delivered and entered the inventory are currently active. Emphasizing Türkiye’s vast geography, Kacır noted that the number of these systems is expected to grow significantly. By accelerating production and deliveries, Türkiye aims to establish a much stronger air defense umbrella. He added that in this field, the Turkish defense industry now stands alongside only a limited number of countries in the world capable of developing such advanced solutions.

Kacır also delivered important messages regarding missile technologies. He said that ROKETSAN and TÜBİTAK SAGE have achieved a highly advanced level of capability in the development and production of strategic missiles. According to Kacır, Türkiye has been developing national missile projects for nearly two decades and has now begun to see the concrete results of that effort. He identified the Tayfun hypersonic ballistic missile as the country’s most advanced product at present, noting that Tayfun is already in serial production. He also stated that Türkiye has reached an advanced stage in its 2,000-kilometer-range missile program. In addition, he highlighted the importance of cruise missiles in modern warfare, describing them as critical systems due to their low-altitude flight profile and maneuverability on the battlefield.

The minister also drew attention to Türkiye’s progress in air-to-air missiles and radar technologies. He stated that ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar is already being used effectively, thanks to its long-range and highly sensitive detection capabilities. Kacır said that TÜBİTAK SAGE-developed Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan air-to-air missiles represent another important milestone for Türkiye. He underlined that Bayraktar Akıncı, equipped with the MURAD AESA radar and the Gökdoğan missile, made Türkiye one of the first countries in the world to enable an armed unmanned aerial vehicle to employ air-to-air missiles. He added that Türkiye has approached the 100-kilometer threshold in air-to-air missile range, and that even more advanced capabilities will be achieved very rapidly.

In the final part of his remarks, Kacır stressed that Türkiye’s defense industry moves are not only aimed at generating military power, but also at strengthening deterrence in order to preserve peace. He emphasized that a robust defense infrastructure also makes a valuable contribution to diplomacy. According to Kacır, Türkiye’s domestic and national defense industry initiatives are making the country a more influential actor both on the battlefield and in the international arena. He concluded that this strategy carries critical importance for the country’s security, sovereignty, and future.