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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Türkiye’s defense industry has become a trusted and preferred ecosystem attracting strong demand not only in its region but around the world.
Speaking at the SAHA EXPO 2026 in Istanbul, Erdogan said Türkiye has “proudly written its name” among countries whose influence is rising globally in defense, aviation and space technologies.
“Behind this picture of success are undoubtedly decades of effort, the dedication of more than 100,000 sons of this nation who work day and night with a devoted spirit, the support of our people and the will of our state,” he said.
Erdogan said the defense fair, held for the fifth time this year, had achieved new records in agreements and international cooperation.
According to the president, 1,763 companies participated in the exhibition, including 1,500 domestic firms, while 203 products with new capabilities were unveiled publicly for the first time.
He said 192 official delegations and 108 procurement delegations attended the event and held direct meetings with industry representatives.
“With 182 agreements signed at the fair, a total business volume of $8 billion was reached,” Erdogan said, adding that $6 billion of the total consisted of export-oriented deals.
“When we look at the whole picture, what we see is exactly this: The Turkish defense industry has become an ecosystem that is in demand, trusted, closely followed and preferred not only in its region but also worldwide,” he added.
Erdogan also highlighted continued growth in Türkiye’s defense and aviation exports.
“There was a 28% increase in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. We carried out $2.871 billion in exports in the first four months,” he said.
The president praised SAHA Istanbul as Europe’s largest defense and aviation cluster, noting that it includes more than 1,300 member companies and the active participation of 30 universities.
“We will continue working without stopping until we reach the goal of a fully independent Türkiye in the defense industry,” Erdogan said.
Turkish defense companies are showcasing their latest systems and technologies during the five-day exhibition at the Istanbul Expo Center, which concludes Saturday.
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