Turkey’s Success in Global Arms Exports Reaches New Heights

 

By Sherazur Rahman

Turkey has recently achieved remarkable success in the international arms export market and is advancing quickly in science and technology, especially in defense. The domestic design and manufacturing of defense technology in Turkey has drawn worldwide attention.


Currently, Turkey meets about 80 to 85 per cent of its defence industry's needs through its own domestic technology and has therefore become an example to many countries around the world.


The Daily Sabah reports that Turkey's exports in the defence and aerospace sectors amounted to nearly 11 billion USD (about 515 billion Turkish lira) from July 2025 through June 2026. This marks the first instance in the nation's history that its exports in this area have surpassed that figure within twelve months.


In 2026, exports rose by 29.6 per cent on the previous year to reach 802.8 million USD. Defence exports in the first six months of 2026 were 4.67 billion USD, representing an increase of 29.5 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2025.


In contrast, Portugal Business News stated that in 2025 Turkey's total defense exports surpassed 10 billion USD, which placed the country 11th in the world by export value, and that Turkey's share of global arms exports was about 1.8 per cent, a figure which represents an increase of 122 per cent since 2020.


Pakistan (16 per cent of total exports), the United Arab Emirates (12 per cent), and Ukraine (8.4 per cent) were the principal buyers of Turkish defence products. According to reports from a number of international sources, Turkey has exported more than 230 defence-related products and systems to almost 185 countries, thus enhancing its standing in the global defence industry.


In the last twenty years, Turkey has boosted its defence industry by making continuous investments, carrying out research and promoting technological development. The country is no longer heavily reliant on foreign weapons and technologies and now produces most of its defence equipment at home, which represents a major change in its defence capabilities.


Sources: SIPRI, The Daily Sabah, Portugal Business News, Wikipedia


Image credit: Teknofest


Writer: Sherazur Rahman, Teacher and Writer, Bangladesh