Türkiye’s fast-growing defence industry is gaining global recognition. European countries are rearming and demand for reliable suppliers rising.
Türkiye’s fast-growing defence industry is gaining global recognition. European countries are rearming and demand for reliable suppliers is rising.
Türkiye is fast emerging as a key player in Europe’s evolving defense landscape—rising from regional partnership to a global defense supplier in the face of mounting geopolitical tensions.
From the ongoing war between Russia & Ukraine, to growing uncertainty over the long-term U.S. military presence on the continent, European nations are rapidly rearming—and Türkiye’s defence sector is stepping in to fill that demand.
Defence exports from Türkiye soared from $2.3 billion in 2020 to more than $7.1 billion in 2024, placing the country as the world’s 11th-largest arms exporter, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Much of this success is driven by indigenously developed, combat-tested technologies such as the Bayraktar TB2 drone—widely used in conflicts from Azerbaijan's Karabakh region to Ukraine.
Türkiye’s exports to Europe alone jumped from $369 million to $1.2 billion over the past three years, now accounting for 22% of its total defence sales.
Poland, the first European Union and NATO member to purchase Bayraktar TB2 drones, received all 24 units by mid-2024. Albania and Croatia followed, which acquired logistics, training and command-and-control systems.
In 2024, Aselsan launched a regional office in North Macedonia to coordinate activities across the Balkans.
Havelsan, another important Turkish defence player, won a Romanian tender to modernize maritime surveillance using its MATRA software platform.
Recent collaborations that took place this year in 2025 are also reinforcing its foothold: Turkish drone-maker Baykar is partnering with Italy’s Leonardo, while Turkish Aerospace Industries is co-producing the HURJET light combat jet in Spain.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte recently called Türkiye’s defence base “impressive” and urged deeper integration with European systems.
With both innovation and reliable delivery, Türkiye is not only purchasing—but increasingly, the builder of Europe’s future security architecture.
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Türkiye’s leading drone manufacturer has unveiled its newest long-range kamikaze drone, capable of operating alongside other drones without human intervention. The K2 Kamikaze UAV, developed by Baykar, can carry out missions up to 2,000km from its launch point.
Turkish defence giant Baykar showcased its Bayraktar TB2, Akinci, TB3, and Kizilelma models at the BAMEX’25 expo in Bamako, Mali. The company provides advanced national unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to African countries, contributing to security and stability across the continent.
Türkiye’s leading drone manufacturer Baykar has completed its acquisition of historic Italian aviation firm Piaggio Aerospace, paving the way for a European production base for its unmanned aerial vehicles and civil jets.
Italy has approved Baykar's acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace, a move to strengthen Turkish aviation in Europe, expanding production capacity and preserving a historic brand.
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Governments around the world are responding cautiously to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for countries to send naval ships to the Strait of Hormuz to protect commercial shipping and help restore the flow of global oil supplies.
Kyrgyzstan lawmaker Shairbek Tashiev has resigned from parliament after being questioned by investigators. The Central Election Commission confirmed it has formally terminated his parliamentary mandate.
Kazakhstan’s next presidential election will be held in 2029 in line with the Constitution, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said after voting in a referendum on a draft new Constitution amid debate over whether the reforms could signal a future transfer of power.
China’s special envoy for Afghanistan has begun visits to Kabul and Islamabad to mediate between the two countries, as cross-border clashes continue following Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan in February.
Israel is set to approve the mobilisation of up to 450,000 reserve troops at the request of the military, as Israeli forces begin further ground attacks in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
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