Roketsan continues to expand Türkiye’s strategic capabilities by transferring its strong export performance in the defense industry to the space domain. According to statements by Roketsan General Manager Murat İkinci, the Şimşek Project—one of the most critical pillars of the company’s space vision—is progressing as planned. Once completed, the project will enable Türkiye to independently place both military and commercial satellites into orbit using domestically developed launch vehicles and space systems.

İkinci emphasized that 2025 was a record-breaking year for the Turkish defense industry, with total exports surpassing 10 billion dollars. Roketsan played a major role in this success, increasing its exports by more than 50 percent compared to the previous year and exceeding 750 million dollars in export revenue. Highlighting the company’s short-term goal of reaching 1 billion dollars in exports, İkinci stated that nearly 1 billion dollars worth of new export contracts signed in 2025 demonstrate the sustainability of this growth through 2026 and 2027.

Roketsan’s global expansion strategy is not limited to space projects. Europe has become one of the company’s fastest-growing markets, particularly through cooperation with NATO member states. İkinci noted that new production facilities have begun operations abroad, reinforcing Roketsan’s global footprint. In addition to Europe, the company plans to expand its presence in the Middle East, Asia, the Far East, and the Americas through joint production initiatives and strategic partnerships.

Within the scope of the Şimşek Project, intensive R&D efforts are focused on liquid-fueled rocket engines, propulsion systems, and launch vehicle technologies. Upon completion, the project is expected to significantly reduce Türkiye’s dependence on foreign launch services while providing a major strategic advantage in defense, communication, and reconnaissance satellite capabilities. Roketsan’s space initiative is widely regarded as a critical step toward positioning Türkiye among the countries with independent access to space.