Türkiye targets top 10 global defense exporters after record $10.5 billion sales in 2025

Türkiye is raising its ambitions in the global defense market after achieving the world’s highest growth in defense exports over the past decade and recording exports of $10.54 billion in 2025—a 48% annual increase. Haluk Görgün, President of Türkiye’s Defense Industries Secretariat (SSB), announced the sector is now approaching its goal of becoming one of the top 10 defense exporters worldwide, driven by a vision of full industrial independence and a shifting international security landscape.

Global Outreach and Market Expansion

Görgün, speaking at the Defense and Aerospace Industry Global Strategies Conference, noted that SSB organized 485 international activities in 2025, including bilateral meetings with 94 countries, participation in major global events, and accompaniment of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on seven overseas visits. While Europe remained the largest regional market with $4.3 billion in exports, Turkish defense products also gained strong traction in Eastern markets and the Middle East. Notably, Türkiye implemented a comprehensive export package to support Syria’s defense needs following the country’s stabilization.

Sector Performance and Strategic Shifts

The defense and aerospace sector accounted for 3.6% of Türkiye’s total exports in 2025, up from 1.7% in 2022. A significant milestone was the average export turnover per employee reaching $100,000, with some firms like ammunition producer ARCA Defense achieving $750,000 per capita. The sector signed new deals worth $17.9 billion, marking a 79% annual increase. Görgün also revealed that a new country-to-country government sales model will be fully implemented this year, enabling tailored cooperation frameworks with foreign partners.

Future Goals and SME Support

Emphasizing the need to close the gap with global leaders—where per capita export turnover can reach $300,000—Görgün stressed closer coordination between SSB and industry in foreign business development. He added that special support will be provided to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in international markets, ensuring broader sector participation in Türkiye’s export growth.