World's defense giants flock to major defense fair IDEF 2023 in Istanbul

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Giants from the global defense industry attended the 16th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul.

Hundreds of domestic and foreign companies exhibited their products in defense, aviation and aerospace fields at the four-day event, which ends on Friday.

While 600 Turkish companies, including Aselsan, Roketsan and Havelsan joined the exhibition, foreign manufacturers such as Airbus, British defense giant BAE Systems, France's Dassault Aviation, US-based Lockheed Martin, Italy's aerospace and defense firm Leonardo, Spanish state-run ship-maker Navantia and British engine giant Rolls Royce were also there.

The event also included pavilions from China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the UK, and Azerbaijan, among other countries.

Delegations from 81 countries were hosted, while some 60,000 participants from 102 countries visited the fair, according to Haluk Gorgun, the head of Türkiye's Defense Industry Agency.