AAD 2026: Turkey Secures Third-Largest Participation

Turkey secured the third-largest presence at AAD 2026 (Africa Aerospace and Defence), held September 16-20 at Air Force Base Waterkloof near Pretoria, South Africa, trailing only host nation South Africa and China. The figure was confirmed by Turkey’s Ambassador to Pretoria, Kezban Nilvana Darama Yildirimgec.

The Turkish delegation was led by Deputy Minister of National Defence Salih Ayhan, with coordination handled by the Presidency of Defence Industries. Companies exhibiting at the fair included ASELSAN, STM, Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), Sarsilmaz, BMC and HAVELSAN. The Defence and Aerospace Industry Exporters’ Association (SASIB) also held a separate stand.

“Our companies achieved the third-widest participation after South African and Chinese firms,” Ambassador Yildirimgec said. She added that the full potential of cooperation between the two countries has not yet been tapped given their respective industrial and technological capacities, and noted strong interest from South African firms in expanding ties with Turkish companies.

Deputy Minister Ayhan held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the fair, including with the Vice President of Egypt’s Armed Forces Armament Authority, the Commander of the Mozambican Air Force, and South Africa’s Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga along with Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa.

AAD is the only major defence and aerospace exhibition held in Sub-Saharan Africa. The event’s prior edition in 2024 drew roughly 480 companies from 33 countries.