Polish defense chief hails Türkiye’s ‘huge leap’ in military production

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz praised Türkiye’s defense industry transformation, saying Poland wants to follow a similar model of increasing domestic production while also expanding exports.

Speaking at the opening of the 34th International Defense Industry Exhibition in Kielce, held from Sept. 8-11, Kosiniak-Kamysz said Türkiye had undergone a major shift over the past two decades.

“Türkiye has made a huge leap. It has undergone a major transformation over the last 20 years and has become capable of producing 80% of its military equipment itself,” he said.

ROKETSAN was among the local and international companies participating in the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition at the Targi Kielce exhibition center in Kielce, Poland, Sept. 8, 2026. (AA Photo)

Poland looks to Türkiye’s defense industry model

Kosiniak-Kamysz said Türkiye had not only expanded production for its own defense needs but had also increased exports and actively promoted them.

“This is a model we also want to implement in Poland,” he said.

According to the minister, Türkiye previously produced about 20% of the equipment needed for its own defense while importing the remaining 80%.

“Today, it has completely reversed those proportions,” he said.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland’s current balance was roughly 50% domestic production and 50% imports.

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The defense minister said the Polish government was taking full responsibility for building what he described as a strong and secure country, adding that the war in Ukraine had demonstrated the dangers of the current security environment.

“No obstacle placed before us will stop our path toward creating secure borders, strengthening our armed forces and equipping Polish soldiers with the best personal equipment,” he said.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland was increasingly becoming not only a buyer of military equipment but also a producer.

He also expressed pride over the exhibition of a prototype 40-ton heavy armored combat vehicle developed by the Polish Armaments Group on the basis of the Borsuk amphibious infantry fighting vehicle.

“Let us believe in our own strength and build it, because only the strong are worth defending,” he said.

September 17, 2026 11:53 AM GMT+03:00