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Defense Industry President Haluk Gorgun outlined Türkiye's current defense industry achievements and future goals, stating the country controls 65% of the global unmanned aerial vehicle market.
"We dominate 65% of the entire global market in unmanned aerial vehicles. While completing our 5th-generation aircraft, we are also preparing for the 6th-generation aircraft," Gorgun said in an interview with a Turkish media outlet.
He emphasized that Türkiye focuses on original and cost-effective production rather than imitating global practices.
"We know that we have to focus on original and cost-effective productions that we really need, not imitate what is being done anywhere in the world. If we had imitated what the world was doing and copied others, Türkiye would not have achieved this success in UAVs today," Gorgun stated.
Gorgun announced that the first serial production KAAN aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2028. The development team is currently manufacturing six aircraft simultaneously for different test scenarios.
"The entire team is working day and night to deliver the first serial production KAAN aircraft by the end of 2028. We are currently manufacturing 6 aircraft at the same time. Each has different test scenarios," he said.
The first batch of 10 aircraft, designated Block 10, will begin delivery by the end of 2028.
Türkiye is developing a "Steel Dome" layered air defense system to counter various aerial threats. The system will use artificial intelligence for rapid calculation and target identification.
"We started with the 'Layered Air Defense System' concept. In the first stage, weapon systems and sensors are being developed that can neutralize a threat that can reach the point you need to defend," Gorgun explained.
The system will differentiate between ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and kamikaze drones to deploy appropriate countermeasures.
The Unmanned Combat Aircraft (UCA) project will be accelerated to provide strategic capabilities. These aircraft will conduct air-to-air combat and operate at longer ranges.
"The UCA Project will accelerate. We will gain strategic power with this project. They will be aircraft that can go further and fight air-to-air," Gorgun said.
Air-to-air missiles are being developed domestically to support these capabilities.
Three Altay tanks will be delivered in August from the production line, with serial production continuing as planned. A total of 250 Altay tanks will enter the Turkish Land Forces inventory.
Gorgun also highlighted that the average age of defense industry workers in Türkiye is 34, compared to 50 in Europe and America.
"Our people have already produced these things. Who knows what else they will produce in the next 20 years? Indeed, we have seen in the last 3-4 years how unmanned systems have changed doctrines in the field," he said.
Türkiye's total security expenditures amount to approximately $50 billion, representing 3.7% of national income and making it one of the countries closest to NATO's 5% commitment.
"NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has mentioned the development of the Turkish defense industry in his speeches several times. I also thanked him," Gorgun noted.
In 2024, 55.4% of Türkiye's defense exports went to Europe and NATO allies. The systems are both functional and cost-effective, with the United States also having a significant share in these exports.
"Türkiye has been dominant in 65% of the entire world market in armed and unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles since 2018," Gorgun stated.
Türkiye is also collaborating with Spain on aircraft carrier and Hurjet projects. The TCG Anadolu received initial design support from Spain and was produced in Istanbul.
"We have a joint working approach for the second 300-meter aircraft carrier to be built," Gorgun said.
Gorgun lastly noted that Türkiye has overcome embargoes through domestic production capabilities.
"We have come this far by overcoming embargoes. Embargoes only extend the time it takes to obtain the product we want. Ultimately, we produce our own systems and become a brand in the world," he concluded.
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