President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pledged to further expand Türkiye’s defense industry, saying Ankara aims to become one of the world’s top arms exporters.
"It is a fact that success in defense can only be achieved with a comprehensive strategy. You cannot be a deterrent on land without being strong in the air and effective at sea. Thank God, we are very strong in all these areas,” Erdoğan said on Dec. 20 at the Istanbul Shipyard Command.
He said Türkiye ranks 11th globally in defense exports, reaching $7.44 billion this year, excluding December — a 30 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
“We believed in ourselves, and we trusted the Turkish defense industry. In a short time, we achieved these figures. Of course, we will not stop here,” he said.
The president said the country is steadily expanding its production capacity and technological capabilities, supported by more than 3,500 defense-sector companies and over 100,000 workers.
“We are increasing our capacity day by day, continuously developing our capabilities and opportunities, and are producing our own technology,” he said, adding that all stages — from research and development to design, software and mass production — are carried out using “domestic and national resources.”
“We meticulously analyze the data we collect from the field and take our existing technology to even greater heights based on feedback."
He said Türkiye’s goal is to rank among the world’s top 10 countries in defense and aviation exports by 2028, with annual exports of $11 billion.
“All these investments we are making today are not to prepare for war, but to protect peace, independence and the future,” Erdoğan said.
“We have no eyes on anyone's land or sovereignty. We do not want tension with any country. We do not want crisis, conflict or war. We desire nothing but peace and stability for our neighbors."
Erdoğan also highlighted Türkiye’s naval shipbuilding efforts, saying Turkish shipyards have exported more than 140 naval platforms of various sizes worldwide. He said construction is underway on a 300-meter-long aircraft carrier, which he described as the “big brother” of the flagship amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu.
“We meet both our own needs and the demands of our friends and allies in all naval platforms, from unmanned vehicles to frigates,” he said.
More than 40 defense industry firms are expected to contribute to the carrier’s design and construction, daily Hürriyet reported earlier this year. The vessel is projected to have a draft of 10.1 meters and an operational capacity of 50 aircraft.
Once completed, Türkiye would become the fifth country — after the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and China — capable of independently designing and building an aircraft carrier with a displacement of 60,000 tons or more, the report said.
At roughly twice the size of TCG Anadolu, the new carrier’s flight deck will be able to accommodate 20 aircraft, with space for an additional 30 in its hangar.
