Led by domestic firms such as ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, TUSAŞ, and Baykar, Turkey's defense industry has undergone a fundamental transformation over the past two decades. At the SAHA 2026 fair, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Turkish defense sector has become a sought-after, trusted, and preferred ecosystem at both regional and global levels. Erdoğan noted that Turkey stands as one of the founding actors in the new era, where conventional power elements are being replaced by multilayered and integrated systems.

Turkish defense exports rose 48 percent year-over-year in 2025, exceeding $10 billion. In the first four months of 2026, exports reached $2.87 billion, representing a 28 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The goal is to reach $11 billion in full-year exports and place Turkey among the world's top 10 defense exporters. Currently, Turkey exports more than 230 defense systems to 185 countries.

The SAHA 2026 fair is organized by SAHA Istanbul, Turkey's and Europe's largest defense, aviation, and space industry cluster. Starting in 2018 with 180 companies from 12 countries, the fair now hosts over 100,000 visitors from more than 120 countries. This year's edition saw participation from 1,760 companies, including 1,500 Turkish and 263 foreign firms, with over 200 products showcased for the first time. Since the fair's opening, 182 agreements have been signed with a total business volume of $8 billion; $6 billion of this was directly export-oriented agreements.

Turkey's achievements stem from long-standing frustration over NATO allies' failure to provide adequate defense systems against missile threats, despite Turkey's status as a major NATO member. The country has transformed from heavy dependence on foreign equipment into an exporter capable of meeting nearly all its defense needs with domestic systems. Strategic systems such as the Yıldırımhan ballistic missile have become symbols of Turkey's technological capacity and ability to act independently.

President Erdoğan emphasized that this transformation is "the fruit of decades of labor and the hard work of hundreds of thousands of people working day and night." The country has faced numerous obstacles, including embargoes and internal sabotage attempts. Despite these challenges, Turkish defense industry has become a significant global player by increasing localization rates and sustaining research and development investments. This success has strengthened Turkey's position not only economically but also in terms of strategic autonomy.