Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated during the opening ceremony of the Technopark and National Technology Workshop at Aksaray University Conference Hall that Turkey is preparing for a new era of major advancements in the defense industry. Stressing that the Steel Dome Project will be completed, Kacır said the range and speed of Turkey’s missile systems will be increased, underscoring the country’s determination to strengthen its deterrence capability. His remarks are seen as a significant signal of a new phase in domestic and national defense technologies.

In his speech, Kacır also referred to Turkey’s history in defense and technology. He noted that pioneering figures such as Vecihi Hürkuş and Nuri Demirağ had taken important steps in aviation during the early years of the Republic, but those initiatives were not allowed to continue for various reasons. He also recalled that the aircraft factory established in Etimesgut, Ankara, had operated for a period before being shut down. According to Kacır, Turkey’s industrialization journey was repeatedly interrupted until the 2000s, but the country has since changed course and become a strong power capable of meeting its own defense needs.

Kacır emphasized that over the last two decades, Turkey has made strategic moves to reduce foreign dependence in the defense industry. He said that a country which once struggled to procure critical systems even from allied nations during its fight against terrorism has now reached a point where it can develop many key platforms with its own resources. These include unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, air defense systems, and next-generation fighter aircraft projects. He highlighted that Turkish youth, engineers, and technicians have been the driving force behind this transformation. Kacır also described the national technology initiative as not merely an economic preference, but as a cornerstone of political independence and national sovereignty.

The minister further stated that the success achieved in defense industry will also be carried into space technologies. He pointed out that Turkey has become a country capable of developing and manufacturing its own satellites. Kacır added that Turkey is now one of only 11 countries able to develop and produce its own communication satellites, a capability that will form the basis for even larger projects in the future. Highlighting Turkey’s location in a highly sensitive geopolitical region, he said a strong and deterrent defense capacity is no longer optional but a necessity. With the Steel Dome Project and more advanced missile systems, Turkey is expected to reinforce this capacity even further. These statements clearly show that Turkey’s goal is not only to preserve its current strength in defense, but also to become a more influential regional and global actor through next-generation technologies.