Ahmet Kaygusuz Appointed Deputy General Manager at ARCA Defence, Türkiye’s Top 2025 Exporter
Ahmet Kaygusuz has been appointed Deputy General Manager for Business Development and Corporate Communications at ARCA Defence, the company ranked first among Turkish defence and aerospace exporters for 2025. He moves to the post after a long career at the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), Türkiye’s defence procurement authority.
The appointment places a former government export-facilitation official inside an ammunition manufacturer at a moment when NATO members are placing multi-year artillery ammunition contracts.
Background at SSB
Kaygusuz built his career at the Presidency of Defence Industries. As Asia-Pacific Regional Manager within the International Cooperation Department, he handled export processes for defence and aerospace products to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Bangladesh. He subsequently served as a director in the same department and then as Head of Corporate Communications.
In that last role he ran the organisation of the NATO Defence Industry Forum (NSDIF) held alongside the NATO Ankara Summit — described as the largest event of its kind in the Alliance’s history.
| Period | Position / Institution |
|---|---|
| SSB tenure | International Cooperation Department — Asia-Pacific Regional Manager |
| SSB tenure | International Cooperation Department — director |
| SSB tenure | Head of Corporate Communications Department |
| 2026 | NATO Ankara Summit — organisation of the NATO Defence Industry Forum (NSDIF) |
| August 2026 | ARCA Defence — Deputy General Manager, Business Development & Corporate Communications |
Personal
Kaygusuz is a father of two. He exercises regularly and plays football in his spare time.
ARCA Defence in the export table
Founded in 2020 by partners Özgür Rodoplu, İsmail Terlemez and Savaş Balçık, ARCA Defence manufactures artillery rockets, 155 mm artillery ammunition, 122 mm rockets, mortar ammunition and C4 plastic explosive.
In the ranking presented at the 5th Global Strategies in Defence and Aerospace Industry Conference, the company took first place in Türkiye’s defence and aerospace exports for 2025, and also won the weapons systems and ammunition category. Reaching the top of that table five years after incorporation reflects how sharply post-2022 ammunition demand has reshaped the sector.
| Rank | Company |
|---|---|
| 1 | ARCA Defence |
| 2 | Baykar |
| 3 | TUSAŞ |
| 4 | TEI |
| 5 | ROKETSAN |
The company also sits on the board of SAHA İstanbul. Board member Özgür Rodoplu has said export work is continuing and that a signing ceremony with Estonia’s Ministry of Defence was planned for SAHA 2026 — an indication of where the company’s European business is heading.
What the appointment signals
Ammunition exports are transacted government-to-government or through ministry-level negotiation rather than commercial channels alone. Certification, end-user documentation and long-term capacity commitments matter as much as unit price. Kaygusuz’s combination of an SSB international cooperation file and a communications directorship maps onto exactly those two requirements: opening state-level doors and managing the corporate profile that accompanies them.
The Asia-Pacific markets he covered at SSB — Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh — are also active buyers of artillery ammunition and rocket systems, which suggests continuity rather than a change of direction for the company’s export map.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Coverage
Sources
- SavunmaSanayiST — Ahmet Kaygusuz appointed Deputy General Manager at ARCA Defence (17 August 2026)
- SavunmaSanayiST — ARCA Defence, 2025 export champion
- SAHA İstanbul — board of directors page
- 5th Global Strategies in Defence and Aerospace Industry Conference export ranking
