Türkiye to enhance defense and security with domestic technologies

As outlined in the 12th Development Plan (2024-2028), Türkiye is poised to bolster its defense and security capabilities through the maximum utilization of national technologies and resources. The overarching objectives include enhancing the global competitiveness of the defense and aerospace industry, fostering the transfer of defense industry expertise to civilian applications, and harnessing this sector's potential for substantial economic value within the country.

Key endeavors to realize these ambitions encompass the development of domestic production competencies, particularly in sub-components, to minimize foreign dependency in addressing Türkiye's defense and security requirements. To foster innovation and progress, research and development (R&D) activities will be promoted, focusing on pioneering technologies such as quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and hypersonic technologies, both for military and civilian purposes.

In response to the sector's growing demand for qualified human resources, educational infrastructure will be strengthened, and interest in the defense industry will be stimulated through technology competitions and programs. The plan seeks to cultivate more innovation-driven startups specializing in high technology for the defense industry and encourage the growth of domestic supply ecosystems, supported by large-scale defense industry enterprises.

To spearhead the country's digital transformation, the plan envisions elevating the digital maturity of defense industry companies and ensuring the effective use and security of data. It also emphasizes the importance of ecological awareness by increasing green transformation initiatives across the sector and organizing information campaigns to mitigate potential export impediments arising from global regulatory changes.

The plan is geared towards expanding defense industry exports and reinforcing international collaborations, along with promoting the integration of civilian markets, talent acquisition in high-tech fields, and contributing to Türkiye's industrialization objectives and trade balance sustainability.

The overarching strategy will work towards enhancing the competitiveness of the Turkish defense industry on the global stage, fostering the utilization of technology-intensive products and services from military applications in the civilian sector in line with industrialization targets.

Furthermore, the plan envisions creating platforms to strengthen cooperation among industry stakeholders and meeting the increasing cybersecurity requirements in both defense and security and civilian domains with domestic and proficient solutions.

In line with these policies and measures, the defense and aerospace industry's turnover, which stood at 12.2 billion dollars in the previous year, is projected to rise to 26 billion dollars by 2028. Defense and aerospace industry exports, which have demonstrated an upward trajectory and reached 4.4 billion dollars in the past year, are anticipated to surge to 11 billion dollars by 2028.

The sector is poised for significant employment growth, with an approximate doubling in employment during the plan period. Employment figures that stood at 81.1 thousand in the previous year are expected to increase to 158 thousand by 2028. The localization rate in the sector is also set to improve, with a target of reaching 85 percent by 2028, up from the previous year's 73.4 percent.