At ASELSAN’s “Foundations for the Next 50 Years” ceremony in Gölbaşı, attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Defense Industry Agency (SSB) President Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün outlined Türkiye’s new defense technology vision. He declared that the newly launched Oğulbey Technology Base will become a pioneering center for the development of future command-and-control systems, advanced communication networks, quantum technologies, and artificial intelligence-driven defense algorithms. “At Oğulbey, we will not only produce technology but also strategic thinking,” Görgün emphasized, describing the site as a major leap forward in Türkiye’s technological transformation.

Görgün stated that the localization rate in the defense sector has reached 83%, with a $7.5 billion annual export volume and a user base spanning 185 countries. Türkiye’s defense ecosystem now includes more than 3,500 companies and nearly 100,000 personnel working on over 1,380 active projects, with a total project value exceeding $100 billion.

Highlighting the latest achievements, Görgün noted that 47 air defense, radar, and electronic warfare systems worth over $460 million were delivered under the Çelik Kubbe (Iron Dome) program. The systems—HİSAR O 100, SİPER, ALP 300-G, PUHU, REDET, and KORKUT—represent “the signature of Turkish engineering,” he said, adding that these deliveries strengthen not only national defense but also national pride.

He also announced the opening of 14 new ASELSAN facilities with a total investment exceeding $280 million, boosting the company’s production capacity by 40% and creating 4,000 new jobs. These sites feature 23,000 square meters of cleanroom and laboratory space, supporting advanced testing and integration processes. Görgün described them as “strategic innovation centers” rather than mere production plants. The Oğulbey Technology Base, he added, will ultimately create 8,000 jobs and reach a total investment volume of $1.5 billion once fully operational.

Görgün praised the long-term strategic vision of President Erdoğan, crediting his leadership with reshaping Türkiye’s defense destiny since the 2004 Defense Industry Executive Committee decisions. Concluding his remarks, Görgün said: “Today, we are witnessing not just a sectoral success but a national achievement. The Century of Türkiye will be the Century of Turkish Engineering, and defense industry will form the backbone of this new era.”

The ceremony was attended by key national figures including Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, MİT Director İbrahim Kalın, Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Director of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş, ASELSAN Chairman Prof. Dr. Ercümend Arvas, and Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar.