Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that the momentum Türkiye’s defense industry has gained in recent years should no longer remain limited to a few major centers, emphasizing that expanding this high-level production and technological capacity across Anatolia has become a strategic necessity. Kacır noted that the defense industry has become one of the driving forces of Turkish industry thanks to its deep technology, R&D, and innovation capabilities, adding that this transformation is a major source of national pride. He recalled that Ankara currently serves as the main hub of the defense industry, while a strong industrial cluster has also emerged in the Marmara Region. According to Kacır, the next goal is to establish a similar production and technology ecosystem in other industrialized cities throughout Anatolia.

The minister underlined that the sector’s future growth depends not only on advanced technology production but also on improvements in mass and serial manufacturing, cost optimization, and rapid delivery. He stressed that the experience and know-how Türkiye has built in traditional industries such as machinery and automotive manufacturing must now be transferred more effectively into the defense sector. Kacır also pointed out that stronger cooperation among companies and faster knowledge sharing will be among the most critical priorities in the coming period. In this process, non-governmental organizations and organized industrial zones are expected to take on active roles, while joint efforts with the Presidency of Defense Industries are set to accelerate.

According to information obtained by Anadolu Agency, the Ministry of Industry and Technology has already begun technical preparations in line with this vision. A new joint structure is planned to deepen technical harmonization in the fields of standardization, testing, certification, and accreditation. At the same time, new initiatives aimed at supporting innovation in the defense sector are being prepared. Institutional cooperation is also expected to grow in areas such as artificial intelligence and digital transformation, enabling the exchange of expertise and the spread of best practices. Through these steps, both production quality and efficiency in defense manufacturing are expected to improve, while industrial infrastructure in various Anatolian cities will directly benefit from this transformation.

Today, Türkiye’s defense industry has reached remarkable scale, with more than 4,000 companies, over 1,400 active projects, more than 100,000 direct employees, annual turnover exceeding 20 billion dollars, a localization rate above 80 percent, exports reaching 185 countries, and a product range of 230 different items. Last year, defense and aerospace exports, including NATO and service exports, rose by 48 percent compared to the previous year and reached 10.056 billion dollars. In addition, under the Defense Industry Investment and Development Activities Support Program, a total of 50 million dollars in SME support was provided to numerous companies in 2024 and 2025. Within the scope of EYDEP, 1,300 companies have been evaluated and hundreds have received direct financial support. With around 9,000 domestic products and more than 4,000 companies registered in the YETEN inventory, this growing ecosystem is expected to become even stronger as defense industry capabilities spread across Anatolia.