Türkiye’s leading defense, aerospace, and space industry cluster SAHA Istanbul demonstrated its growing influence at the 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) by participating with 218 member companies. During the fair, the cluster signed several key domestic and international cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening Türkiye’s position in the global defense and aerospace ecosystem.

A major milestone came with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between TÜBİTAK, Middle East Technical University (METU), and SAHA Istanbul to launch the “Business Administration for Executives” Non-Thesis Master’s Program. The SAHA MBA will now continue under the academic assurance of METU and the industry expertise of TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE, focusing on training future leaders of Türkiye’s defense and aerospace sectors.

In addition, a “National Competence Initiative Partnership Protocol” was signed between SAHA Istanbul and the Defense Industry Academy under the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB). This collaboration aims to strengthen domestic human capital, promote industry-academia cooperation, and boost innovation and research capacity across SAHA’s member companies.

SAHA Istanbul also pursued key international dialogues throughout IDEF 2025. Delegates from the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups visited the SAHA Istanbul booth to learn about the cluster’s initiatives and the upcoming SAHA EXPO 2026 International Defense, Aerospace, and Space Fair, to be held May 5–9, 2026, at the Istanbul Expo Center. Moreover, SAHA representatives met with the Ukrainian National Defense Industry Cluster (NAUDI) to expand cooperation in defense technology development, joint production, and industrial collaboration between Turkish and Ukrainian firms.

In its closing statement, SAHA Istanbul emphasized Türkiye’s ambition to become a global hub for defense and aerospace innovation: “At SAHA EXPO 2026, we aim to bring together the global defense ecosystem in Türkiye — a country that shapes the future through technology.” With over 1,000 member companies, SAHA Istanbul continues to act as a strategic bridge between academia, industry, and the defense establishment, accelerating Türkiye’s technological independence and international competitiveness.