Türkiye's Defence Industry gains Momentum across Europe

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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