Turkey’s defense and aviation industry entered 2025 with remarkable momentum, securing over $1 billion in new contracts in January alone. According to Defense Industry President Haluk Görgün, who spoke at the 4th “Global Strategies in Defense and Aviation Industry Conference” held in Belek, Antalya, the sector has signed nearly $20 billion worth of agreements over the past two years, demonstrating its growing international competitiveness and technological maturity.

Görgün highlighted that the industry’s export performance in 2024 exceeded expectations. After closing 2023 with $5.5 billion in exports, the sector achieved a 29% increase, reaching $7.1 billion in 2024—well above the $6.5 billion target. He attributed this success to the strong localization vision initiated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, noting that the domestic production rate in defense systems has risen from 20% two decades ago to around 80%, and in some advanced systems, up to 95%.

A key milestone in this progress has been the development of locally powered military vehicles. Görgün pointed out that BMC’s new 4x4 armored vehicles for the Turkish Land Forces and Gendarmerie Command are equipped with domestic engines, pushing the localization rate to 95%. These achievements not only enhance national self-sufficiency but also make procurement more cost-effective and sustainable for Turkey’s defense institutions.

Görgün also announced the establishment of a new department within the Defense Industry Agency to strengthen cooperation with NATO and other international partners. This unit will oversee coordination of joint projects and proposals, aiming to increase Turkey’s participation in NATO-related initiatives. “With our young, dynamic, and technologically advanced infrastructure, we are ready to meet more of our allies’ defense needs,” Görgün said, emphasizing Turkey’s growing role in the alliance’s technological ecosystem.

As 2025 progresses, Turkey’s defense and aviation industry is expected to maintain its upward trajectory, further expanding its export markets and technological independence.