Sarsılmaz and Spain-based EM&E Group announced a memorandum of understanding for strategic cooperation in defense technologies, signed on May 6, 2026, during the SAHA 2026 defense fair in Istanbul. The agreement aims to combine the defense industry ecosystems of both countries through system integration, joint production, technology sharing, and value-added export objectives.

Sarsılmaz is one of Turkey's leading weapons and ammunition manufacturers, specializing in firearm design and production since the 1880s. The company maintains a comprehensive product range in machine guns and various caliber weapon systems. TR Mekatronik possesses significant expertise in developing 25-30 mm cannon systems, which are widely deployed on modern armored vehicles and platforms. Spain-based EM&E Group brings global experience and technological capacity in remote-controlled weapon systems (RCWS).

The agreement encompasses the integration of Sarsılmaz's machine guns and TR Mekatronik's 25-30 mm cannon systems with EM&E Group's remote-controlled weapon platforms. This integration will create a complementary solution for modern combat platforms and deliver a competitive product in international markets. Through joint production and technology sharing, both companies aim to leverage their respective strengths to generate new opportunities in the global defense market.

The Turkish defense industry has achieved significant progress in recent years in increasing localization rates and developing value-added products. Cooperation between traditional weapons manufacturers like Sarsılmaz and international partners strengthens Turkey's alignment with global defense technology standards and enhances export potential. System integration and joint development activities, in particular, establish Turkish engineering capacity as a recognized force in international markets.

The global defense industry is trending toward modular and integrated weapon systems. Remote-controlled weapon systems compliant with NATO standards are increasingly preferred on modern armored vehicles, light tactical vehicles, and naval platforms. The cooperation between Sarsılmaz and EM&E Group demonstrates the Turkish defense industry ecosystem's capacity to compete at the international level.

Sarsılmaz Foreign Trade General Manager Nuri Kızıltan stated that the agreement represents not merely a technical partnership between two companies, but a strategic step in deepening defense industry relations between Turkey and Spain. EM&E Group Vice President in Charge of Global Sales M. Jocxan Bojorquez emphasized that this cooperation will strengthen both countries' defense industry infrastructure and provide competitive advantages in the international market.