Turkey’s defense and aviation exports have reached an impressive $10 billion in 2025, reflecting a substantial increase of 48 percent from $7.1 billion recorded in 2024, according to a report from Daily Sabah. This growth highlights the nation’s burgeoning capabilities in the defense sector.
Haluk Görgün, the head of the Presidency of Defense Industries, noted that December alone saw exports skyrocket to over $2.5 billion. Within this figure, goods accounted for $9.8 billion, while services made up the remaining $184 million. Collectively, these exports represent 3.7 percent of Turkey’s overall export figures.
Görgün emphasized significant contracts that contributed to this growth, including military ships supplied to Portugal, Hürjet trainers sold to Spain, the Kaan fighter system dispatched to Indonesia, and Offshore Patrol Vessels delivered to Romania. A noteworthy 56 percent of these exports, totaling approximately $5.6 billion, were directed towards European nations, NATO countries, and the United States. Additional markets included regions in the Asia-Pacific, as well as the Middle East and Africa.
In an effort to bolster its defense exports further, Turkey is making strides in increasing domestic production, reducing dependency on foreign technologies. In a recent development, the state-owned industry firm Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi launched the 130mm BALKIN missile. This innovative missile is designed to disrupt radar-guided attacks by releasing special particles upon detonation, which create a dense, radar-reflective cloud, effectively misleading radio-frequency homing missiles and enhancing the protection of naval platforms.
Moreover, Turkey has initiated the construction of its first domestically developed submarine at the Gölcük Shipyard Command, a significant naval facility located in Kocaeli, northwestern Turkey, near the Sea of Marmara. This milestone signifies a pivotal step in the nation’s ambition to enhance its naval capabilities.
In tandem with these advancements, Turkey is also progressing with the Steel Dome multilayered air defense system. Recent contracts valued at around $6.5 billion have been signed by defense firms to ramp up production. First announced in 2024, this cutting-edge system is reminiscent of Israel’s Iron Dome and employs artificial intelligence to promptly intercept a variety of air and missile threats across multiple ranges and altitudes.
These developments underscore Turkey’s commitment to strengthening its defense industry and enhancing its position in the global arms market, signaling a trajectory toward greater self-sufficiency in defense technologies.
