Western defence contractors still have something of a stronghold when it comes to export of arms to the Middle East, but Turkey is making consistent inroads into a market where countries are known to have loose purse strings when it comes to acquiring weapons.
Half of the country’s arms sales last year went to three countries in the region - Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman. The recent rapprochement between Turkey and the Gulf states is expected to have a massive positive impact on Turkish arms sales in this decade and beyond.
In January this year, the Kuwait Defense Ministry and Turkish firm Baykar Makina signed a US$370 million for 18 Bayraktar TB2 drones. What is noteworthy is that the Turkish firm beat competition from military drone makers in the U.S., Europe and China to bag the contract.
Bayraktar TB2 drones have been in great demand in the region since 2018 when Qatar's armed forces signed an agreement with Baykar for six TB2s, three ground control station systems and equipment, and a training simulator. In 2021, Oman and Turkey announced a preliminary understanding for Muscat’s procurement of Bayraktar TB2 drones. No numbers were disclosed.
In September last year, Turkey and the UAE signed a massive deal, worth US$2 billion, for 120 TB2s, with reports indicating that some of the drone’s components were likely to be produced in a Baykar plant in the Emirates. Deliveries have already commenced, with UAE acquiring 20 drones last year.
The growing reputation of Turkey’s defence industry has caught Saudi Arabia’s attention as well. Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) has expressed an interest in Turkish drones and is reportedly in discussions with Baykar for TB2 drones. In January, SAMI representatives met with Turkish defence company BMC to discuss cooperation on advanced defense technologies and land defense systems.
Aselsan has inaugurated a new office in Muscat, the capital of Oman, as part of its efforts to expand its…
Embraer Executive Jets has signed a purchase agreement with Flexjet for a fleet of business aircraft, including the Praetor 600,…
Lufthansa Group Airlines have introduced a new feature allowing passengers to share Apple AirTag location data to assist with baggage…
Assac Networks, a cybersecurity firm specialising in securing communication devices for government, defence, and commercial organisations, has secured a contract…
Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur / NTT) province, Indonesia, is set to introduce…
The Philippines has submitted to Israel a new shopping list for defence systems. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is reportedly in…
Israel's laser-based Iron Beam air defence system could reduce the number of interceptors needed for close-range rocket defense by up…
While Israel is in the midst of an effort to rebuild its stockpile of different types of ammunition that have…
In Q4 2024, Vietjet's aviation revenue reached VND 19.776 trillion (approx. SGD 1.061 billion), a 36% year-on-year (YoY) increase, while…
Rheinmetall delivered the first Boxer Skyranger 30 cannon-based air defence vehicle to the Bundeswehr at the end of January, 2025,…
L3Harris Technologies has successfully conducted the first flight of its all-digital electronic warfare (EW) suite, Viper Shield, on a single-seat…
Princess Anne, the United Kingdom’s Princess Royal, has officially opened a new electro-optics facility at Thermoteknix, a company based in…
The French Defence Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l'Armement / DGA) has entered into a 24-month contract with Airbus Defence…
In December 2024, Integrated Surveillance and Defense (ISD), in partnership with the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Indonesian…
Veridos will once again supply the technology for identifying participants at the Munich Security Conference (MSC), scheduled to take place…
Rheinmetall has secured a major contract to advance the digitalisation of the Bundeswehr’s communication infrastructure. The company, through its subsidiary…
Lufthansa Group has begun the integration of ITA Airways into its network, with several key benefits now available to passengers.…
The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is set to receive six Rafale fighter jets from France in 2026, Air Chief Marshal…
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has retired its fleet of C-130H Hercules aircraft after 60 years of service.…
Lockheed Martin has delivered the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet to Bulgaria, marking a significant advancement in the country’s…
BIRD Aerosystems has received a follow-on order for the company's Aeroshield missile protection system, which includes the SPREOS (Self Protection…
The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $383 million contract modification to continue the development of the next generation…
Cohort plc, an independent technology group, has completed the acquisition of EM Solutions, an Australian company specialising in satellite communication…
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has outlined plans to acquire four new frigates to strengthen its fleet, with preparations underway…
Aselsan, Türkiye’s leading defense company, signed export contracts worth over 1 billion USD in 2024, a record high figure in…
L3Harris Technologies' Chief Financial Officer Ken Bedingfield, 52, took over as President, Aerojet Rocketdyne, effective Monday. He succeeds Ross Niebergall,…
ZeroAvia has reached consensus on the Certification Basis relating to its 600kW electric propulsion system (EPS) with the Federal Aviation…
ASQS, a provider of integrated safety and quality management software for the aviation industry, has appointed Florian Lis-Srajer as Deputy…
As Tehran and Moscow continue military cooperation, Iran has acquired advanced Sukhoi-35 fighter jets from Russia to bolster its military…
Israeli company Smartshooter has unveiled its latest counter-UAS (C-UAS) solution: Smash Dome. The lightweight, portable, and adaptable solution supports both…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.