Erdoğan says Turkish defense industry 'trusted, preferred worldwide' as SAHA 2026 wraps with $8 billion in deals

Türkiye's defense industry has become a trusted and preferred ecosystem attracting high demand not only in its region but worldwide, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Friday. Speaking at the SAHA EXPO 2026 International Defense and Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul, Erdoğan said Türkiye has "proudly written its name" among countries whose star is shining globally in defense, aviation, and space technology.

Success behind the scenes

"Behind this picture of success are undoubtedly decades of effort, the dedication of more than 100,000 sons of this nation who work day and night with a devoted spirit, the support of our people and the will of our state," he said. Erdoğan said the fair, held for the fifth time this year, was crowned with new records, agreements, and cooperation.

Records and agreements

A total of 1,763 companies, including 1,500 domestic firms, took part in the fair, while 203 products with new features were unveiled for the first time. He added that 192 official delegations and 108 procurement delegations had the opportunity to make direct contact with the sector.

Export growth

Erdoğan said Türkiye's defense and aviation exports maintained strong momentum this year. "There was a 28% increase in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. We carried out $2.871 billion in exports in the first four months," he said. He also praised SAHA Istanbul as Europe's largest defense and aviation cluster with more than 1,300 member companies.

Future goals

"We will continue working without stopping until we reach the goal of a fully independent Türkiye in the defense industry," he said. The five-day SAHA 2026 at the Istanbul Expo Center concludes Saturday, with Anadolu serving as global communications partner.