Turkish Defense Industry Exports 2025-2026: Top Destinations and the $10 Billion Year
Türkiye’s defence and aerospace industry crossed US $10 billion in exports in 2025 — an all-time record and the third consecutive year of double-digit growth. With drones, armoured vehicles, missile systems and naval platforms going to more than 180 countries, the export portfolio has become one of the most strategically significant assets in the Turkish economy. Here is the 2025–2026 export tracker.
The 2025 Headline: $10 Billion
Defence and aerospace exports reached an annualised total of approximately US $10.05 to US $10.56 billion in 2025, according to data compiled by the İKV (Economic Development Foundation) and confirmed by Turkish industry sources. That was the highest export year in the history of the Turkish defence industry, and the third consecutive year of double-digit percentage growth. The 2026 target announced by Defence Industries President Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün is US $11 billion or higher.
| Headline Numbers — Turkish Defence Exports 2025 |
|---|
| Total exports 2025: ~US $10.05–10.56 billion Year-on-year growth: ~+10 to +15 percent Export destinations: 180+ countries February 2026 exports: US $553.4 million (+9.2% YoY) January–February 2026 cumulative: US $1.107 billion Stated 2026 target: US $11 billion+ |
What Türkiye Sells
The structure of the export book has changed materially over the past three years. Unmanned aerial vehicles and their sub-systems continue to lead, but armoured vehicles, naval platforms and missile systems have all grown faster than the overall market.
| Category | Headline products | Notable customers |
|---|---|---|
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | Bayraktar TB2 / Akıncı / TB3 / Kızılelma, ANKA, Aksungur | 30+ TB2 buyers; Saudi Arabia (60 Akıncı); Indonesia (Kızılelma) |
| Combat aircraft | KAAN (TF-X) | Indonesia (48 + 12 options) |
| Armoured vehicles & tanks | ALTAY, Kaplan, PARS, Cobra II, Kirpi | Qatar, Pakistan, Romania, UAE, Saudi Arabia (interested) |
| Naval platforms | Ada-class corvettes, Istanbul-class frigates, MİLGEM (export) | Pakistan (4 MİLGEM), Ukraine (2 Ada-class) |
| Missile systems | ATMACA, SOM, HİSAR, Roketsan air-to-surface family | Indonesia (ATMACA), Azerbaijan, Pakistan |
| Radars & EW | Aselsan ALP / EIRS, KORAL, REDET | Multiple Gulf and African customers |
| Air defence systems | SİPER, HİSAR-O+, Gürz, Sungur | Saudi Arabia (talks), Italy (talks for Steel Dome) |
| Munitions | MAM family, SUNGUR AT, Roketsan smart bombs | Cross-cutting with all UAV exports |
Top Destination Regions
Turkish defence exports go to more than 180 countries, but the bulk of revenue concentrates in four regions. Each region buys for different reasons.
Middle East / Gulf — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq: large-platform purchases (Akıncı, ALTAY, naval platforms), local-production agreements
South-East Asia — Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan: top-tier acquisitions (KAAN, Kızılelma, ATMACA, MİLGEM), strategic alignment
Africa — Morocco, Algeria, Ethiopia, Niger, Mali, Somalia, Egypt: TB2 / Akıncı for counter-insurgency and border surveillance
Europe / NATO — Poland (TB2, 24 aircraft), Romania (naval, TB2), Albania, Latvia, UK (sub-system), Italy (air-defence talks)
The Big Deals Driving the Number
Several headline contracts disproportionately shape the 2025–2026 export numbers. The largest single contract in the history of the Turkish defence industry — Indonesia’s 48-aircraft KAAN deal, valued at more than US $10 billion — was signed in 2025 and runs through 2034 deliveries. Saudi Arabia’s 60-aircraft AKINCI order, with local production, is the second-largest single drone deal Baykar has signed. Pakistan’s four-ship MİLGEM order (still in production) anchors the naval export book. The cumulative pipeline of these multi-year contracts means the 2025 export figure under-reports the order book by a wide margin.
Where the Money Goes Inside Türkiye
Five companies anchor the export book: ASELSAN (electronics, radars, EW, sensors), TUSAŞ (aerostructures, KAAN, ANKA), Baykar (TB2 / Akıncı / TB3 / Kızılelma), Roketsan (missiles, ATMACA, MAM family, air-defence interceptors) and BMC (ALTAY, Kirpi, wider land platforms). All five are now ranked in the world’s top 100 defence companies by Defense News — a first for any non-Western country with five entries simultaneously.
2026 Outlook
Three structural drivers point to continued growth through 2026 and beyond: the multi-year backlog of already-signed contracts; the addition of newer high-value platforms (KAAN, Kızılelma) to the export portfolio; and a wider Steel Dome export push as Türkiye starts marketing its integrated air-defence stack as a package. The stated public target of US $11 billion+ for 2026 is widely viewed by industry analysts as conservative.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Turkish defence industry export in 2025?
Approximately US $10.05 to US $10.56 billion — the highest annual export total in the industry’s history.
What is the largest single Turkish defence export contract?
Indonesia’s 48-aircraft KAAN deal, valued at more than US $10 billion (signed 2025, deliveries through 2034).
Which categories drive the export book?
Unmanned aerial vehicles still lead, but armoured vehicles, missile systems and naval platforms have grown the fastest in 2024–2025.
How many countries import Turkish defence products?
More than 180, according to Defence Industries Presidency (SSB) data.
What is the 2026 export target?
US $11 billion or higher, as publicly stated by Türkiye’s Defence Industries President.
Conclusion
The Turkish defence industry’s 2025 export year converted years of indigenous investment into a structural global presence. With five companies in Defense News’s top 100, a US $10 billion-plus annual export book, and a multi-year backlog of mega-contracts in fighters, drones, tanks and naval platforms, the question is no longer whether Türkiye is a top-tier exporter — but how far the next wave of contracts can push the industry within the decade.
Suggested Images (with alt text + sources)
Search the WordPress Media Library first for the keywords below. If no asset exists, use the suggested external source (royalty-free / official press).
| # | Suggested Image | Alt Text / Caption | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image 1 | turkish-defense-exports-chart-2025.png | Turkish defence exports 2020-2025 growth chart | Search WP Media first; fallback: SSB / İKV public reports |
| Image 2 | ssb-haluk-gorgun.jpg | Defence Industries President Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün at industry event | Search WP Media first; fallback: SSB official press kit |
| Image 3 | saha-2026-exhibitors.jpg | SAHA 2026 defence and aerospace exhibition exhibitors | Search WP Media first (‘SAHA 2026’); fallback: SAHA Expo press kit |
Sources
Savunma Sanayii İhracatı Şubat 2026 — Savunma Sanayi ST — https://www.savunmasanayist.com/savunma-sanayii-ihracati-subat-2026/
İKV 2025 Türk Savunma ve Havacılık İhracat Performansı — İKV — https://ikv.org.tr/ikv.asp?id=9893&lng=tr&ust_id=9878
Türk savunma sanayisi ihracat odaklı büyümeyi sürdürecek — Anadolu Ajansı — https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/savunma-sanayisi/turk-savunma-sanayisi-ihracat-odakli-buyumeyi-surdurecek/3816774
Savunmada hedef 11 milyar $ ihracat — Yeni Şafak — https://www.yenisafak.com/ekonomi/savunma-sanayiinde-hedef-11-milyar-ihracat-4751358
Türkiye’nin Askeri Sanayi Gücü 2026 — Haber Expres — https://www.haberexpres.com.tr/turkiye-nin-askeri-sanayi-gucu-2026-yerli-uretimde-buyuk-sicrama-kuresel-rekabette-yeni-donem/157027
