Türkiye’s large-scale defense industry projects launched in recent years not only increase military capabilities but also form the foundation of the country’s technological independence goals. Projects such as the National Combat Aircraft KAAN, TCG Anadolu, ALTAY main battle tank and Çelik Kubbe air defense architecture stand out among Türkiye’s most critical investments in land, naval, air and electronic systems. Each of these programs requires extensive research and development, long testing phases, advanced engineering infrastructure and a broad domestic supply chain.

The National Combat Aircraft KAAN is considered one of Türkiye’s most ambitious aviation projects to date. Developed by TUSAŞ, KAAN performed its first flight on February 21, 2024, staying in the air for 13 minutes, reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet and a speed of 230 knots. The KAAN program is not limited to the production of a fighter aircraft; it also includes the development of critical technologies such as avionics, mission computers, radar, composite manufacturing, flight control software and testing infrastructure.

In the naval domain, TCG Anadolu stands out as one of the largest and most strategic platforms of the Turkish Naval Forces. Developed as a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship, TCG Anadolu entered service on April 10, 2023, becoming the flagship of the Turkish Navy. With its ability to carry UCAVs, helicopters, armored vehicles and landing craft, the ship provides Türkiye with significant capacity in overseas operations, evacuation missions, humanitarian assistance and rapid deployment to crisis regions.

In land systems, the ALTAY main battle tank plays a critical role in the modernization of Türkiye’s armored forces. The program has entered serial production, and the transition to a domestic and national power group is planned from the end of 2026. This step is highly important not only for armor and firepower, but also for reducing foreign dependence on critical subsystems such as the engine and transmission. The ALTAY project is being carried out with the goals of high survivability, advanced fire control, mobility and command-and-control integration on the modern battlefield.

In Türkiye’s air defense vision, the Çelik Kubbe architecture has become one of the most prominent concepts. This approach aims to bring together systems such as SİPER, HİSAR, KORKUT, GÜRZ, SUNGUR and various radar and command-control elements under an integrated network. Çelik Kubbe is intended to create a common air picture, detect threats early and respond with the most suitable defense layer against different threats ranging from low altitude to long range.

The cost of defense projects is not determined only by the unit price of a platform. Research and development, test centers, prototype production, software development, supply chain establishment, qualified human resources, certification, infrastructure investments and transition to serial production are among the main factors shaping total cost. For this reason, projects such as KAAN, TCG Anadolu, ALTAY and Çelik Kubbe should be considered not only as individual products, but also as strategic investment programs that expand Türkiye’s defense industry ecosystem.

The common feature of these projects is that they are being carried out in line with Türkiye’s goal of reducing foreign dependence and increasing its decision-making capacity in critical technologies. KAAN contributes to air superiority and deterrence, TCG Anadolu strengthens overseas naval operations, ALTAY enhances land power, and Çelik Kubbe supports national air defense. High defense budgets therefore stand out not only as military spending, but also as investments in engineering, production, exports, technology accumulation and strategic independence.