Görgün: Over 1,400 Defense Projects Under Way as Three New Anatolian Plants Come Online
Haluk Görgün, head of Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), gave A Haber an overview of the sector’s project pipeline, export performance and new investments in Anatolia ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.
More than 1,400 projects under way
Görgün said more than 1,400 procurement, development and infrastructure projects are currently being coordinated by the agency, in a sector that now employs over 100,000 people across more than 4,000 companies.
Exports keep climbing
According to figures Görgün cited, delivered exports rose from $4.4 billion in 2022 to $5.5 billion in 2023, then to $7.1 billion before topping $10 billion last year. Görgün noted those figures reflect only delivered goods — the sector actually signed $17.8 billion in new contracts last year against $10.1 billion in deliveries, meaning some of this year’s deliveries are already under contract. He said growth so far this year is running above 20 percent, approaching 30 percent, and that he expects 2026 exports to close above last year’s total.
| Year | Delivered Exports |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $4.4 billion |
| 2023 | $5.5 billion |
| 2024 | $7.1 billion |
| 2025 | Over $10 billion |
Source: statements by SSB President Haluk Görgün to A Haber
Three new plants in Anatolia
Görgün also discussed investments made in the earthquake-affected region under the agency’s coordination, aimed at both housing and job creation. He said an ASELSAN electronic-card production facility in Malatya is now operational, and a TUSAŞ facility in Kahramanmaraş producing aircraft structures has grown into a plant that “makes aircraft parts for destinations across the world.” In Hatay, he said, a Roketsan munitions production facility is nearing completion, and the agency hopes President Erdoğan will attend its opening.
Context
Görgün also noted that Turkey ranked 11th among defense-exporting nations last year, with roughly 56 percent of exports going to NATO member states, citing agreements with Spain, Portugal and Poland as examples of that cooperation.
Watch Görgün’s full interview with A Haber here.
Source: A Haber
