Page 3 - SAHA EXPO 2024 - DAY 1

Turning Crisis into Opportunity, the Türkiye Way

As far as success stories go, this one is
very special.
Over 3,500 defence companies exporting
more than 230 products to about 170 coun-
tries, an increase in defence exports from
US$4.4 billion in 2022 to US$5.5 billion in
2023, an over 80% localization rate in the
sector, a 21.6% jump in aerospace and
defence exports in the first six months of
2024 compared to the same period in 2023;
the numbers are strikingly impressive, but
what is even more remarkable about the
growth of the Turkish indigenous defence
industry is the resilience it has shown in the
face of adversity. arms and equipment, including naval plat- defence industry apart from other countries
forms, armored vehicles, missiles, defence is its capability to provide customized and
The sanctions under Countering America’s electronics, and electronic warfare systems. flexible engineering solutions tailored to
Adversaries Through Sanctions Act Once a major arms importer, Türkiye in 2023 specific needs.”
(CAATSA) that the U.S. imposed on Türkiye became the world’s 11th largest exporter
in 2020 following its procurement of the of defence products, with its revenue from Ideal Platform
Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system arms exports touching a record US $5.5 SAHA Expo 2024 provides Türkiye’s indig-
posed a major challenge for Ankara. So billion. The country still imports defence enous defence industry a well-deserved
did Canada’s decision in the same year to equipment, but primarily subsystems and opportunity to pat itself on its back, and
suspend the export of drone technology. components. a chance to showcase before a global au-

The sanctions worked, but not in the way Individual successes add extra sheen to the dience the massive strides it has made in
Türkiye’s North American NATO allies country's seemingly unstoppable growth. recent years. There is a sizable number of
thought it would. As the U.S., Canada and Türkiye now has five companies – Aselsan international firms at the event, but over
the rest of the world watched, the country’s (42), Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) the next few days, the spotlight will remain
domestic defence industry went into over- (50), Roketsan (71), Machine and Chemical on homegrown companies as they display
drive, bringing its technological prowess Industry (MKE) (84), and Military Factory products and capabilities that have been
and collective will to the fore and producing and Shipyard Enterprise (AFSAT (94) in the exported to as many as 170 countries in
state of the art weapons that have made Defence News Top 100 list of global defence all regions, many of them in the thriving
waves internationally. A case in point - the firms. Significantly, all the firms improved Middle East and Southeast Asia markets.
Bayraktar TB-2 military drone, which has their position from last year. Across regions, The country’s indigenous defence industry
been exported to more than 35 countries the appetite for Turkish defence products is now riding a wave of momentum, one
so far, was so successful in the early days is on the rise, mainly due to companies generated by a heady mix of soaring inter-
of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that it even being able to offer high quality weapons
inspired a Ukrainian folk song aptly titled at competitive prices. national sales, launch of groundbreaking
“Bayraktar.” products, and increased investment in R&D.
“The overt and covert embargoes that As in any journey, there will be headwinds
Dominant Global Player Türkiye has faced have accelerated the down the road – The International Institute
process of localization and nationalization for Strategic Studies cites new market com-
Military drones are just one part of the in critical technologies,” says STM General petitors and an increasing rate of ‘brain
Turkish defence industry's meteoric rise. Manager Özgür Güleryüz. “Today, thanks to drain’ as challenges – but then, at least in

Türkiye’s defence industry now possesses determined and sustainable policies, the the defence realm, no one seems to know
the capability to design, produce, modernise, localization rate in the defence industry better than Türkiye how to turn crisis into
and export a wide array of conventional has surpassed 80%. What sets the Turkish an opportunity.

Editorial Director Arun Sivasankaran Art Director
Vittorio Rossi Prudente arun.sivasankaran@gbp.com.sg Sudheesh Kularmunda
PUBLISHED BY vittorio.prudente@gbp.com.sg Atul Chandra sudheesh.kularmunda@gbp.com.sg
atul.chandra@gbp.com.sg
Editorial Team Sales Director
Jay Menon Yulian Ardiansyah Akshay Satyamurthy
jay.menon@gbp.com.sg yulian.ardiansyah@gbp.com.sg akshay.satyamurthy@gbp.com.sg

SAHA EXPO 2024 OCTOBER-22-2024 3