SAHA 2026: Türkiye Gets Perfect Stage to Showcase Defense Prowess, Futuristic Vision

It is hard to put it in words, but there is a different and distinct feel to SAHA 2026. If previous editions of the biennial event were about the Turkish defense industry wanting to prove to the world that it had come of age, and being successful at it, this one is about an industry on a steep ascent choosing to flex its considerable muscle, knowing that the world is watching.

Over the next few days, more than 1,700 companies from over 120 countries will showcase products and capabilities, but the spotlight is expected to remain on homegrown companies, many of which have hogged the headlines recently with major international orders and technological breakthroughs. This year’s edition assumes special significance, coming as it does weeks after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had words of praise for Türkiye’s indigenous defence industry during his visit that included a trip to the ASELSAN Technology Base.

As geopolitical tensions rise and regional conflicts drag on, defence spending across the world is on the rise. For Türkiye, there is no bigger or more visible stage than SAHA 2026 to showcase the dynamism of its defense sector and the futuristic vision that drives it forward. Turkish companies, as well as their international counterparts attending the show, realize the next few days will be as good a time as any not only to strike some major deals but also to gain visibility on a truly international stage. The size, stature and format of the event have been tailored to amplify the potential for business deals and knowledge-sharing.

Across a 110,000 m² exhibition space at the Istanbul Expo Centre, exhibitors are showcasing the latest systems and solutions from the land, naval, air, and space domains, with a particular focus on unmanned systems and other disruptive technologies. SAHA 2026, which has "Rule the Technology, Shape the Future," as its central theme, features business-to-business (B2B), government-to-business (G2B), and government-to-government (G2G) meetings, signing ceremonies, product launches, as well as discussions featuring domestic and international experts on topics such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and dual-use technologies. Among the other highlights of this year’s edition is the FPV Drone Zone, the SAHA UGV Challenge and the SAHA Rover Challenge. More than 150 signing ceremonies are expected this year.

The revenue generated from the event will be put to good use. According to Haluk Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board of Directors for SAHA Istanbul, Europe's largest industrial cluster with over 1,300 members, drone production and training centers will be established in all 81 provinces of Türkiye, with the largest one in Istanbul. “We’ll use the revenues from the SAHA expo to establish these centers, which will help us instantly achieve the production capacity of millions of drones nationwide at any given moment,” says Bayraktar, who is also the CEO of defense firm Baykar.

Bayraktar has high hopes for the event. “SAHA oversaw export deals worth US$6.2 billion in total in 2024. This year, we aim for US$8 billion,” he says. “When we launched SAHA Istanbul, there were only 17 firms in Turkish defense in the early 2000s, but now the number of defense firms affiliated with SAHA Istanbul has reached over 1,300. The total number of firms related to the defense industry, on the other hand, is over 3,000.

“SAHA 2026 is more than a trade exhibition—it is a strategic platform showcasing Türkiye’s impressive advancements in defence and aerospace, highlighting its expanding global role,” adds Bayraktar. “We are entering a new era in defence and aerospace—shaped by vision, collaboration, and trusted partnerships.”

The inaugural edition of SAHA in 2018 was attended by 170 defence firms; the current size and stature of the event reflect the growing reputation of Türkiye’s domestic defense industry that is now riding a wave of momentum, one generated by a heady mix of soaring international sales, launch of groundbreaking products, and increased investment in R&D. The country’s military expenditure touched US$30 billion in 2025, an increase of 7.2 per cent from 2024 and of 94 per cent from 2016. Allocations to the special fund to support the Turkish arms industry rose by 25 per cent year on-year and accounted for 22 per cent of Türkiye’s total military expenditure.