Turkish defense industry goals, critical projects in spotlight at meeting

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye’s Defense Industry Executive Committee on Tuesday discussed its goals, top projects, and the level achieved by the domestic industry, which in recent years has hit new highs and set new records.

Chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the committee convened at the presidential complex in the Turkish capital Ankara.

“Assessments were made of the level achieved by Türkiye’s defense industry, future goals, and critical projects,” said the country’s Communications Directorate on X.

“The commitment to supporting the domestic and national defense industry was underlined,” it added.

During the meeting, the Steel Dome Project was discussed, which focuses on integrating layered air defense systems, sensors, and weapons into a network, providing a common air picture in real time, and using artificial intelligence to assist decision-makers.

The meeting also discussed projects for air defense and missile systems, Türkiye’s homegrown fighter jet Kaan, UAVs (drones) the Bayraktar TB3, Akinci, and Aksungur, and various unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles.

Turkish UAVs have gained fame in such conflicts as Ukraine, and won contracts from countries around the world. A growing percentage of weapons and vehicles used by the Turkish Armed Forces is also made domestically.

“The meeting also addressed projects for enhancing the country's space access capabilities, systems for improving situational awareness on land, air, and sea, electronic warfare systems, and defense systems against mini/micro UAVs and swarm-capable kamikaze unmanned maritime vehicles,” it added.

Projects for modernizing tanks and fighter jets, developing engines and power systems for vehicles, and procuring command, control, and communication systems also were discussed during the meeting, it added.

Highlighting satisfaction with the progress in Türkiye’s defense industry, the meeting underlined the need to continue with increased determination, using domestic technologies.