The Turkish defense and aviation industry has achieved sustained growth in exports of domestically produced platforms and munitions across air, land, and sea domains. Sector exports grew from $2.279 billion in 2020 to $10.016 billion in 2025, representing a 4.4-fold increase over five years. This expansion has positioned the defense sector as a significant contributor to Turkey's total exports.

The defense and aviation sector demonstrates broad manufacturing capabilities across a diverse product range. From military vessels and land systems to manned and unmanned aircraft of various sizes, as well as missiles, rockets, and munitions, this portfolio reflects Turkey's comprehensive approach to security solutions. The sector's technological foundation and production capacity enable it to meet the growing defense requirements of allied and partner nations.

Shifts in the global security environment have been a key driver of export growth in the defense sector. Regional conflicts, particularly the Russia-Ukraine war, have increased demand among nations for a wide spectrum of products ranging from large-scale platforms to FPV drones. Turkey has emerged as a significant supplier, leveraging its technological capabilities and manufacturing capacity to address this global demand. The sector's share in total exports increased from 1.5% in 2020 to 4.2% in 2025, reflecting its growing economic importance.

Year-over-year export growth accelerated as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic diminished. Exports rose to $3.225 billion in 2021, reaching $4.396 billion in 2022, $5.546 billion in 2023, and $6.735 billion in 2024. In 2025, exports surpassed the $10 billion threshold for the first time, totaling $10.016 billion. December 2025 recorded $2.571 billion in monthly exports, marking the sector's highest monthly performance on record.

Continued growth is anticipated in 2026. According to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly, the defense and aviation sector achieved $8.05 billion in exports during January-October 2026, representing a 20.2% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Major export contracts signed by sector companies in 2026 and extending into subsequent years support expectations for sustained export growth in the coming period.