SAHA 2026 International Defense, Aerospace and Space Industry Fair, one of the most important platforms showcasing Türkiye’s progress in defense, aviation and space technologies, ended with record participation and major export agreements. Organized by SAHA Istanbul at the Istanbul Expo Center, the fair hosted more than 150,000 visitors and official delegations from over 75 countries, highlighting the growing international interest in the Turkish defense industry.

One of the most significant outcomes of SAHA 2026 was the signing of nearly $8 billion worth of foreign export projects. Murat İkinci, Vice Chairman of SAHA Istanbul and General Manager of ROKETSAN, stated that the fair was held across 400,000 square meters of indoor exhibition space. He emphasized that the export volume achieved at this year’s event was far higher than the previous SAHA fair, describing it as a clear indicator of the Turkish defense industry’s momentum and rising global appeal.

More than 200 new products developed by Turkish defense companies were introduced during the fair. These products covered a wide range of fields, including land, air, naval, space, missile, electronic systems and ammunition technologies. SAHA 2026 went beyond being a product showcase, becoming a strategic platform where export deals were signed, technology partnerships were developed and supply chain cooperation was strengthened.

ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol said SAHA 2026 was the most highly attended edition of the fair to date, underlining the strong interest from European visitors. Akyol noted that Türkiye has become a country that is closely followed and sets trends in the defense industry. He also pointed out that some countries which had previously imposed restrictions or embargoes on Türkiye were now attending the fair to explore possible cooperation, describing this as a strong sign of Türkiye’s growing influence.

İlhami Keleş, General Manager of Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation, recalled that SAHA’s journey began in 2015 with an exhibition area of just 5,000 square meters and has since reached a remarkable scale. Keleş stated that 55 foreign ministers and deputy ministers were hosted at the fair, adding that such a level of attention is rarely seen at defense exhibitions around the world. He said Türkiye’s international position, rapid defense industry development and partnership-oriented approach to technology transfer attracted serious interest from global participants.

TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu highlighted the strategic meetings held behind the scenes at SAHA 2026. According to Demiroğlu, nearly 30,000 B2B meetings took place during the fair. These meetings brought together SMEs, main contractors and companies within the supply chain, allowing them to discuss current challenges, future plans and potential solutions. This aspect of the fair demonstrated SAHA’s role not only as an exhibition, but also as a platform that strengthens the wider Turkish defense industry ecosystem.

TEI General Manager Mahmut Faruk Akşit said the fair was highly productive in terms of cooperation, sales and supply chain development. Akşit announced that TEI signed three sales agreements during SAHA 2026, one of which involved a significant international engine sale. He also noted that TEI signed a cooperation agreement with an international institution, showing that Turkish aviation engine technologies are gaining greater visibility in global markets.

SAHA Istanbul Secretary General Levent Kerim Uça stated that the organization, which began its fair journey in 2018, had completed its fifth edition with SAHA 2026. He said the fair continues to grow in both quality and scale in parallel with the development of the Turkish defense industry. Uça also announced that the next SAHA fair will be held on May 16-20, 2028.

With its visitor numbers, export agreements, foreign delegations, new product launches and B2B meetings, SAHA 2026 became a major milestone for Türkiye’s defense, aerospace and space industries. The fair reinforced Türkiye’s position as a rising global actor and demonstrated the country’s ambition to play a more decisive role in international defense and technology markets.