ISTANBUL, April 27 — SAHA 2026, Türkiye’s flagship defense, aviation, and space exhibition, will take place at the Istanbul Exhibition Center from May 5–9, bringing together more than 1,700 companies from over 120 countries as Ankara seeks to strengthen its global defense industry position and expand export capacity.
The fifth edition of the event is expected to span 400,000 square meters and attract more than 200,000 visitors, with over 25,000 scheduled business meetings. Organizers say the exhibition will serve as a platform for investment, commercialization, and international cooperation under the theme “Master technology, shape the future.”
Rapid Growth and Export Ambitions
Haluk Bayraktar, chairman of SAHA Istanbul, said the organization has expanded from 27 members in the Marmara region to more than 1,300 members across 49 provinces. He noted that the event has grown significantly since its first edition in 2018, which featured 170 domestic companies.
Bayraktar said export contracts worth $6.2 billion were signed under the SAHA framework in 2024, adding that the target for 2026 is at least $8 billion. “We will use the revenue generated from this year’s fair to establish drone production and training centers,” he said, outlining plans to scale production capacity to millions of drones nationwide.
He also cited lessons from recent conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, emphasizing the need to expand distributed defense manufacturing capabilities.
Broad International Engagement
SAHA Istanbul Secretary-General Levent Kerim Uça said 161 official delegations from 71 countries and 108 commercial procurement delegations from 35 countries are expected to attend. More than 25 foreign ministers and senior military officials will participate, alongside international panels and high-level sessions.
The event will feature 203 product launches and 164 signing ceremonies, reflecting a focus on industrial partnerships and procurement deals.
New Technology and Operational Demonstrations
For the first time, the exhibition will include an FPV drone zone and unmanned ground vehicle competitions, with demonstrations designed to replicate operational scenarios. Turkish Naval Forces platforms, led by the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, will be displayed at Ataköy Marina and Sarayburnu Port, alongside unmanned maritime systems.
In the avionics domain, DEICO’s Aviolinks product family—supporting MIL-STD-1553, ARINC-429, and ARINC-825 protocols—will be introduced, highlighting advances in mission-critical data communication systems.
Space and Advanced Systems Focus
Space technologies will feature prominently, with dedicated areas including the Space Dome, Space Pavilion, and Space Talks sessions aimed at promoting Turkey’s space strategy and international collaboration opportunities. The program will also include events linked to the upcoming 77th International Space Congress in Antalya.
New Platforms and Defense Systems
SYS Group will unveil the CANiK M3 FALCON 12.7×99 mm heavy machine gun designed for air platforms, while Nurol Makina will present new configurations of its armored vehicles, including the NMS EWB, NMS-L, and EJDER YALÇIN Ambulance models.
The KISRAK 4×4 tactical vehicle, designed for operations in harsh environments, will also be introduced.
Industry Outlook and Strategic Programs
Haluk Görgün, head of Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries, said SAHA 2026 will enhance the global visibility of domestically developed technologies. The OSTİM Defense and Aviation Cluster will participate with a joint booth representing 11 companies.
TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu said the company aims to fly two prototypes of the KAAN fighter jet this year, while the ANKA-III unmanned combat aircraft is scheduled for its maiden flight in early 2027. ASELSAN CEO Ahmet Akyol added that new systems, including the ÇELİK KUBBE integrated air defense architecture, will be showcased.
The exhibition underscores Turkey’s push to expand its defense industrial base, increase export revenues, and position itself as a key supplier in emerging domains such as unmanned systems and space technologies.
