Turkish defense giants to showcase strength at SIDEC 2025 in Slovenia

A formidable contingent of Turkish defense industry leaders is poised to present its advanced capabilities at the International Defense Fair and Conference (SIDEC 2025) in Slovenia this week. The SAHA Istanbul defense and aerospace cluster is orchestrating the participation within the national pavilion, spearheaded by the Turkish Defense Industries Secretariat. The event, a key European defense and aerospace gathering, will run from Tuesday until October 24 and will host 165 companies from 19 countries.

Strategic European Outreach

The primary mission for the Turkish delegation is to aggressively promote the nation's indigenous industrial prowess and solidify its technology networks across the European continent. A significant part of this strategy involves deepening the existing collaboration with Slovenia's premier defense cluster, GOIS, building upon a memorandum of understanding signed in 2023. The group will engage in targeted B2B meetings centered on joint production initiatives, technology sharing, and supply chain integration, all designed to enhance Türkiye's industrial diplomacy and support its export-oriented growth strategy.

A Springboard for SAHA 2026

The Slovenia fair serves as a strategic platform for promoting the upcoming SAHA 2026 International Defense, Aerospace and Space Industry Fair in Istanbul. The SAHA Istanbul delegation will actively court international interest and hold discussions with potential exhibitors, including talks for Slovenia to participate with a national pavilion at the 2026 event. SAHA 2026, scheduled for May 5-9, aims to attract participants from over 120 countries and generate a business volume exceeding $6 billion.

Promoting a Landmark Space Congress

Concurrently, SAHA Istanbul will conduct promotional activities for another milestone event: the International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) in Antalya. This marks the first time Türkiye will host this global space gathering, organized in collaboration with the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) under the auspices of SAHA MUEK. The delegation will meet with European space technology firms to promote participation and sponsorship opportunities for the Antalya congress, further establishing Türkiye's footprint on the global stage.