The Defense Industry Agency (SSB) held a signing ceremony for 23 newly launched R&D projects that will guide Türkiye’s technological advancement in the defense sector. The event, hosted at the Nuri Demirağ Conference Hall in Ankara, was attended by industry leaders, academics, and defense officials. In his address, SSB President Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün emphasized the importance of efficiency, collaboration, and shared vision in achieving success across Türkiye’s defense research ecosystem.

Prof. Görgün announced a meaningful tribute to the engineers who were martyred in a treacherous attack while serving at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ). Their memory will be honored by naming three critical R&D projects after them: ZAHİDE, ATAKAN, and CANBAZ. Görgün described this as a reflection of the defense industry’s unity and respect, symbolizing Türkiye’s determination to carry the legacy of its fallen heroes into the future.

The ceremony also introduced several new projects spanning biotechnology, artificial intelligence, radar systems, missile guidance, navigation, and advanced sensor technologies. Among them, the ZAHİDE Project focuses on developing self-healing nano/micro material technologies; the ATAKAN Project aims to create AI-based multi-target tracking systems; and the CANBAZ Project seeks to advance hybrid missile guidance algorithms using deep reinforcement learning.

Through the newly established SSB R&D Panels, Türkiye’s defense industry can now initiate projects more rapidly and align them closely with operational needs. These panels also launch Defense Industry Broad Area Calls (SAGA) to promote innovation in high-tech research areas. The newly signed projects are expected to reduce foreign dependency, enhance indigenous design and production capabilities, and strengthen Türkiye’s technological autonomy in defense.

This meaningful decision not only commemorates the sacrifice of TUSAŞ engineers but also highlights Türkiye’s growing confidence and competence in developing next-generation defense technologies through national R&D initiatives.