Türkiye’s defense industry will reach key milestones in 2026, including the first delivery of the KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft and the signing of a serial production contract for the KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet, according to Haluk Görgün, President of the Presidency of Defense Industries.
Speaking at a press conference during the 5th Global Strategies Conference on Defense and Aerospace Industry in Antalya, Görgün outlined the sector’s 2025 achievements and 2026 roadmap, highlighting a broad transition from development to delivery, serial production, and exports.
Concrete outputs achieved throughout 2025 were presented in a short film titled “2025 Project Achievements.” Görgün said the sector’s transformation is being driven across four core pillars: human resources, R&D, exports, and industrialization.
Human resources: From talent discovery to talent direction
Görgün said the defense ecosystem now approaches human capital development through a comprehensive framework, ranging from early awareness programs to undergraduate and graduate capacity building, technical workforce training, and global talent competition.
He noted that the Defense Career Platform has connected more than 250,000 users with over 320 companies, while the Defense Development Platform supports continuous learning with 735+ training contents accessed by 68,000 users. The Defense Industry Vocational School model, he added, is strengthening mid-level technical capacity through modular, field-oriented education.
On reverse brain drain, Görgün said that while 339 engineers left Türkiye in 2023 and 47 returned, the balance turned positive by 2025, with 190 qualified experts returning compared to 98 departures.
R&D and technology management: Portfolio reaches $920 million
Görgün said 18 critical technology priority areas have been identified, with knowledge-sharing expanded through five technology day events involving more than 1,900 participants in 2025.
Collaboration with academia has grown to 127 universities and 334 research groups, while the total R&D portfolio reached $920 million. In 2025 alone, 14 new R&D projects were signed and 10 additional projects approved, bringing the total number of ongoing or completed projects to 205.
Exports: $10 billion threshold surpassed in 2025
The sector’s goods and services exports exceeded $10 billion in 2025, Görgün said, while $17.9 billion in new export contracts were signed.
Export activity has spread geographically, with 58 provinces now exporting defense and aerospace products, and the number of provinces exceeding $1 million in exports rising from 21 to 26. Görgün cited intergovernmental projects including KAAN cooperation with Indonesia, naval ship exports to Portugal, and HÜRJET-related work with Spain.
Industrialization and financing
Görgün said the defense ecosystem now includes more than 4,000 companies, a project portfolio exceeding 1,400 programs, over 100,000 direct jobs, and annual turnover above $20 billion.
On financing, more than 900 applications under credit and leasing models resulted in 5.7 billion TL in funding, while $25 million in credit support was provided through the Defense Industry Investment and Development Activities Support Program.
Key projects and deliveries planned for 2026
Aviation and engines
- First delivery of KIZILELMA; signing of the KAAN serial production contract
- Initial deliveries of ship-capable TB3 UAVs
- First deliveries of TB2T-AI UAVs with AI-assisted payload capacity
- TS1400 turboshaft engine integration into the GÖKBEY helicopter and ground testing
- Commencement of HÜRKUŞ deliveries
- Completion of the PDR phase and signing of the CDR contract for the National Combat Aircraft original engine
Strategic systems and naval power
- High-volume deliveries of air defense and missile systems
- Start of AKYA torpedo serial production and ATMACA weapon system integration on submarines
- Completion of MİDLAS vertical launch system integration on combat ships
- Implementation of the GİZEM Project for high-power laser weapon systems
Electronic warfare, sensors, and integration
- Launch of the GÖKBAĞI Project for military 5G/6G communications via near-orbit satellites
- Inventory entry of DIRCM systems for helicopters, led by ASELSAN
- Delivery of at least two ALP-100G and ALP-300 early warning radars
- Induction of the KORAL 200 land-based electronic warfare system and completion of ILGAR-2 deliveries
Land and naval platforms
- Delivery of double-digit numbers of ALTAY main battle tanks
- Induction of 15 medium-class unmanned ground vehicles in various configurations
- Entry into service of TCG Muratreis submarine and completion of TCG 18 Mart modernization
- Delivery of the 6th MİLGEM ship, TCG İzmir, equipped with domestic missiles, radars, and sensors
- Delivery of four LCTs to the Navy and 70 RHIB boats to the Army
R&D and emerging technologies
- Launch of the Göksancak and Yaman autonomy projects
- Development of a Superconducting Quantum Processing Unit (QPU)
- New quantum magnetometer projects for GNSS-independent navigation and submarine detection
- Initiation of new projects in synthetic biology and TAP technologies
National Aircraft Carrier (MUGEM)
Görgün said nearly 50 naval platforms are currently under simultaneous construction. On the National Aircraft Carrier (MUGEM) project, he stated that the program targets a 60,000-ton platform, production activities have begun, and key contracts have been signed.
