BAYKAR, ROKETSAN and ASELSAN Sign Export Deals with Saudi Arabia
Three of Türkiye’s largest defense companies — BAYKAR, ROKETSAN and ASELSAN — are moving forward with export agreements to Saudi Arabia. The deals span a wide range: unmanned aerial vehicles, guided munitions, electronic warfare systems, and radar technology.
Key Points
- BAYKAR, ROKETSAN and ASELSAN have signed export agreements with Saudi Arabia.
- The deals cover drones, guided munitions, electronic warfare, and radar systems.
- Saudi Arabia has become one of Turkish defense industry’s largest Gulf customers in recent years.
- The agreements track a broader strategic warming between Ankara and Riyadh.
- The growing export volume supports Türkiye’s defense export targets.
Background
Turkish defense exports have multiplied over the past decade, with Baykar’s TB2 and AKINCI drones as the primary engine of that growth. Roketsan’s guided rocket and missile systems and ASELSAN’s electronic warfare, radar, and command-and-control solutions have followed the same trajectory. Saudi Arabia, facing a shifting regional security picture — tension with Iran, the Houthi threat along the Yemeni border, and attacks in the Red Sea — has leaned toward diversifying its inventory and turning to regional suppliers. The relatively favorable pricing of Turkish systems, their combat-proven track record, and a more open approach to technology transfer have all shaped Riyadh’s preference.
What It Means for Türkiye
Three major firms entering the Saudi market simultaneously points to something broader than single-platform sales — it signals the export of an integrated defense ecosystem. This strengthens Türkiye’s positioning not merely as an arms seller but as a defense partner building long-term maintenance, training, and co-production relationships. Economically, defense export revenue helps narrow the current account gap and brings in foreign currency; strategically, it deepens trust along the Ankara-Riyadh axis.
FAQ
What is the total value of the deals? The companies have not published a consolidated figure; agreements are being finalized separately for different systems.
Which systems are being exported? Unmanned aerial vehicles, guided rocket/missile systems, electronic warfare, and radar technology are all part of the agreements.
How does this affect regional dynamics? Wider deployment of Turkish systems in the Gulf increases Türkiye’s weight in regional supply chains.
Sources
- TURDEF, “BAYKAR, ROKETSAN and ASELSAN to Export to Saudi Arabia,” August 2026.
