ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, TUSAŞ, Baykar and other Turkish defense companies achieved 10.1 billion dollars in exports last year, reaching a significant position globally. At TEKNOFEST, Cumhurbaşkanlığı Savunma Sanayii Başkanı (Defense Industry Agency President) Haluk Görgün announced during the "Defense Industry and Development" panel that Turkey ranks 11th among defense-exporting nations worldwide. The sector has signed approximately 18 billion dollars in new export contracts, with even stronger performance expected in the final quarter of this year.

The Turkish defense industry ecosystem stands out for its young and dynamic workforce. Görgün emphasized that approximately 97 percent of university-educated employees in the sector graduated from Turkish universities, describing this capacity as the nation's most valuable asset. The average age in defense companies is 34, with some organizations reaching 28-29 years. These teams, developing platforms for air, sea, land, underwater operations and space missions, form the foundation of the presidency's "Fully Independent Turkey" vision.

High value-added production in the defense sector significantly influences Turkey's export performance. While general exports average 1.5 dollars per kilogram, the defense sector reaches 65 dollars per kilogram. Specifically, UAV cameras achieve 20,000 dollars per kilogram in value, while detectors within these cameras reach 50,000 dollars per kilogram. This differential clearly demonstrates the sector's technology intensity and value-creation capacity. As skilled workforce availability increases, transition to these high value-added areas becomes inevitable.

Turkey's defense exports have achieved significant geographic diversification. The sector now exports over 230 products to 185 different countries, reflecting successful trust-building strategies by Turkish defense firms in international markets. Görgün outlined three fundamental pillars of this strategy: keeping commitments, providing after-sales support, and establishing strategic objectives. High-budget new contracts signed during the Azerbaijan visit demonstrate this strategy's effectiveness and expanding regional partnerships.

The Defense Industry Agency has taken important steps against import dependency by selecting names for domestic and national systems based on Turkish culture and Anatolian geography. Platforms like TEKNOFEST attract young talent to the defense sector, strengthening human resources. Young participants in such events become preferred candidates in company recruitment processes, ensuring sustainable sector growth. Recognition by the Turkish Language Association reflects the defense industry's integrated approach combining cultural and technical excellence in system development and nomenclature.