Head of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries Haluk Görgün said SAHA 2026 will serve as a strategic showcase linking Türkiye’s defense, aerospace, and space vision with the wider world. According to Anadolu Agency, Görgün described the event as a platform that will further strengthen the global visibility of indigenous and national technology initiatives supporting technological independence. The exhibition is scheduled to take place from May 5 to 9, 2026, at the Istanbul Expo Center.

Görgün said SAHA 2026 is intended to reflect the collective strength of Türkiye’s defense ecosystem, from prime contractors and SMEs to universities, research infrastructure, and startups. He added that, as a strategic priority, the Presidency of Defence Industries views every step that makes this ecosystem more competitive, resilient, and sustainable as essential. In that sense, the event is being positioned not only as a trade fair, but as a broad industrial coordination and international outreach platform. This last sentence is an inference based on Görgün’s description of the event’s role.

The scale of the event is one of its most striking features. Anadolu Agency reported that SAHA 2026 is expected to host more than 1,700 exhibitor companies and delegations from over 140 countries across an event area exceeding 100,000 square meters. Official SAHA 2026 pages also describe the exhibition as bringing together more than 1,700 exhibitors from over 120 countries, with 140 official delegations and more than 25,000 planned B2B meetings.

Görgün also said the organizers are targeting more than 150 signing ceremonies during the event. According to his remarks, SAHA 2026 is expected to generate stronger outcomes in joint development, supply-chain integration, technology cooperation, and export-oriented agreements. This suggests the exhibition is designed not merely to display products, but to convert industry contacts into concrete commercial and strategic results. This final sentence is an inference based on the stated signing and cooperation goals.

Another major theme of SAHA 2026 will be next-generation experience zones. Görgün pointed to FPV drone areas, international competitions, unmanned ground vehicle challenge zones, and the “World Drone War” concept as examples of how the exhibition will engage directly with the transformation of the modern battlefield. He also said that “SAHA Talks” sessions will address digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and dual-use technologies. Together, these features show that the event is being structured not only around current products, but also around future operational concepts and emerging technology debates. This final sentence is an inference based on the program elements he highlighted.

The exhibition will also include a public-facing dimension. Görgün noted that May 8 and 9 will be organized as “Public Days,” allowing young visitors, families, and technology enthusiasts to experience the technologies on display firsthand. He described this as more than outreach, framing it as a long-term investment in awareness, human capital, and the next generation of engineers and researchers.

Overall, SAHA 2026 appears set to become one of the most visible international platforms for Türkiye’s defense and aerospace ambitions in 2026. Taken together, the official event data and Görgün’s remarks indicate that the exhibition is expected to deepen global cooperation networks, strengthen export momentum, and give greater international exposure to Türkiye’s locally developed high-technology systems. This final assessment is an inference drawn from the event’s published scale and the stated objectives of its organizers and official backers.