The International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), one of the world’s leading defence exhibitions, opened its doors in Istanbul, bringing together industry leaders, state delegations, and security experts from across the globe.
This year’s event serves as a platform for Türkiye and its partners to showcase cutting-edge technologies, sign international agreements, and strengthen strategic cooperation in the defence sector.
AnewZ journalist Nuray Mustafa attended IDEF 2025 and conducted exclusive interviews with top figures shaping the future of defence, including Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar, Roketsan CEO Murat İkinci, Katmerciler R&D Head Fahrettin Akpak, and Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Selçuk Bayraktar to AnewZ: Turkish States Reshaping Global Defense
In an exclusive statement to AnewZ, Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar reaffirmed the company’s global leadership in unmanned systems. He highlighted the production of large-scale drones such as Bayraktar TB2, TB3, Akıncı, and Kızılelma, alongside advanced munitions and payload systems- all developed entirely in Türkiye.
Bayraktar emphasised the growing capabilities of Turkish states in the defence field, particularly Azerbaijan, where Baykar has established Bayraktar Technology Azerbaijan. “The team is composed of highly educated, world-class Azerbaijani engineers,” he said, noting that these engineers are now developing indigenous systems tailored for Azerbaijan’s needs.
He also revealed that the Akıncı drone was recently presented to President Ilham Aliyev, and that further details on Azerbaijan-made platforms would be announced when ready. Baykar expressed confidence in Azerbaijan’s contribution to the security of the broader Turkish world.
Roketsan CEO speaks to AnewZ at IDEF
Roketsan announced a new set of projects in ballistic missile and air defence technologies, describing them as essential for modern warfare and national security. Speaking to AnewZ, company representatives underlined Roketsan’s contribution to both Türkiye and its allied nations through high-impact systems designed to counter evolving threats.
At IDEF, Roketsan signed several international agreements, including strategic partnerships with countries aligned with Türkiye’s defence outlook. “IDEF is a platform where international collaborations are realised,” the company stated, reaffirming its commitment to driving joint innovation in the global defence ecosystem.
Katmerciler signs defense deal with Malaysia at IDEF
Turkish defence company Katmerciler signed a major international agreement with Malaysia for its newly developed ERIN vehicle- a 7-seater 4x4 model engineered entirely by the company's R&D centre, under the leadership of Fahrettin Akpak, Head of Katmerciler's R&D Department.
The ERIN is a more compact version of the Hüzer vehicle and features high-level mine and ballistic protection. It is designed to meet modern operational requirements with agility and safety.
Speaking to AnewZ, Katmerciler officials stated that they held numerous national and international meetings during IDEF. The Hüzer platform, which ranges from 9 to 14 seats, is already in active service in Türkiye and several friendly countries, with demand steadily increasing.
Key features of both the ERIN and Hüzer vehicles include independent suspension, high off-road adaptability, 4x4 capability, and automatic tyre pressure adjustment, enabling superior performance on sand and other challenging terrains. The automatic transmission offers a critical operational advantage, allowing the driver to remain fully focused even under threat.
Katmerciler reaffirmed its commitment to delivering robust, mission-ready solutions tailored to the needs of Türkiye and its allies.
Hakan Fidan praises Azerbaijan’s defence gains, urges swift progress on Zangezur Corridor
Speaking to AnewZ at IDEF, Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan extended warm greetings to Azerbaijan and expressed admiration for its achievements in the defence sector.
“I visited the Azerbaijan pavilion and observed significant progress in the production of modern weapon systems,” Turkish FM said. “There is strong and fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Turkish defence industry. I sincerely congratulate our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters and wish them continued success.”
Regarding the Zangezur Corridor, Turkish FM noted that President Ilham Aliyev and his team are working intensively: “We are in close consultation on this issue and hope to witness positive developments in the near future.”
IDEF 2025 has once again proven to be a vital platform for strategic defence cooperation, technological innovation, and regional partnership building, particularly among Turkish states and their global allies.
Thousands of users in the United States, some parts of Europe and South America on the X (formerly twitter) platform have reported being unable to acc...
U.S. President Donald Trump will roll out the red carpet for Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MBS, on ...
Emirates Airline is confident in Boeing’s plans for a larger 777X and has ruled out ordering Airbus’s A350-1000 at the Dubai Airshow....
The 27th plenary meeting of the Conference of the Special Service Agencies of the Turkic States on the theme 'The Role of Special Service Agencies in ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of November, covering the latest developments you need to...
Thousands of users in the United States, some parts of Europe and South America on the X (formerly twitter) platform have reported being unable to access the site due to Cloudflare outage.
The tectonic plates of global trade and geopolitics are shifting, demanding that regional cooperative structures evolve to match new strategic realities.
Emirates Airline is confident in Boeing’s plans for a larger 777X and has ruled out ordering Airbus’s A350-1000 at the Dubai Airshow.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Thousands of users in the United States, some parts of Europe and South America on the X (formerly twitter) platform have reported being unable to access the site due to Cloudflare outage.
Ukraine is facing a sharp escalation in fighting across several fronts, with Russian forces launching large-scale offensive operations while Kyiv intensifies long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Russia announced on Sunday that its forces had made significant advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, capturing two settlements as part of what it described as a broader offensive aimed at securing full control of the strategic territory.
Russia announced on Sunday that its forces had made significant advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, capturing two settlements as part of a broader offensive aimed at seizing full control of the area.
Emirates Airline is confident in Boeing’s plans for a larger 777X and has ruled out ordering Airbus’s A350-1000 at the Dubai Airshow.
Thousands of users in the United States, some parts of Europe and South America on the X (formerly twitter) platform have reported being unable to access the site due to Cloudflare outage.
U.S. President Donald Trump will roll out the red carpet for Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MBS, on Tuesday for a visit expected to advance the sale of F-35 fighter jets and a host of business deals with the kingdom.
Emirates Airline is confident in Boeing’s plans for a larger 777X and has ruled out ordering Airbus’s A350-1000 at the Dubai Airshow.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian drones damaged a building housing the Dnipro newsroom of public broadcaster Suspilne and Ukrainian Radio Dnipro in a major overnight attack on the city, Suspilne said early on Tuesday (18 November).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment