• Land Warfare

  SAHA 2026: MKE sets its sights on the Turkish Army’s self-propelled guns

  7th May 2026

  With multiple artillery platforms on display at SAHA 2026, Turkey’s defence contractors are positioning to replace the country’s older imported platforms.

• Air Warfare

  Baykar’s Akinci: Local participation and export freedom drive $4.63 billion success story

  5th May 2026

  The success of the Akinci drone stems from Turkey’s push for domestically produced components – which has led to fewer export restrictions – and from manufacturer Baykar’s willingness to coproduce the drone with customers’ domestic industries.

• Air Warfare

  Turkey finalises $7.2 billion deal with UK for 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets

  28th October 2025

  The deal will include a weapons package alongside the aircraft, with deliveries expected from 2030.

• Air Warfare

  Could the Middle East be the next target for the F-35A?

  17th November 2025

  The Pentagon has indicated a growing willingness to export advanced US defence technology to nations in the Middle East – excluding Israel – resulting in new and resumed talks with Saudi Arabia and Turkey respectively.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2026: Turkish and European industries will cooperate, says Aselsan boss

  11th February 2026

  Aselsan was formed 50 years ago in response to difficulties Turkey was facing in sourcing major systems internationally. While some challenges still remain, company president Ahmet Akyol believes a rapprochement is possible.

• Air Warfare

  Bayraktar TB2: The $4.11 billion market success of a cost-effective MALE UAV

  22nd January 2026

  The success of the Bayraktar TB2 stems from it fulfilling a niche of providing reasonable capabilities at a low cost, leading to its acquisition by more than 30 countries including many in Africa; but there are reasons to be cautious about its potential future prospects.

• Naval Warfare

  Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus

  3rd March 2026

  The recent naval modernisation efforts by the Hellenic Navy have been bolstered by the acquisition of advanced Naval Group frigates, the first of which was delivered in December 2025 and is now playing a crucial role in the latest Middle East conflict.

• Naval Warfare

  Turkey targets Italian market with strategic partnership on USVs and hybrid platforms

  19th February 2026

  Havelsan, VN Maritime and Piloda Defence will collaborate to develop and integrate a range of maritime solutions with a view to secure a first procurement contract in Italy in the first half of this year.

• Air Warfare

  Saudi Arabia air focus: The world’s fourth-largest UAV market seeks to strengthen domestic industry

  17th February 2026

  With $9.18 billion in uncontracted programmes — including a potential multi-billion-dollar MQ-9B deal — Saudi Arabia’s UAV sector is poised for significant further growth and industrial expansion.

• Land Warfare

  K9 rolls on as Egypt unveils systems, Australia fires and Vietnam and Norway place orders

  4th December 2025

  Hanwha Aerospace’s tracked K9 Thunder 155mm/52-calibre self-propelled howitzer has had notable success in the market over the past few years in Europe and Asia, with Poland alone ordering 316 systems.

• Air Warfare

  Turkey moves step closer to Eurofighter purchase with UK and Germany agreements

  24th July 2025

  The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement between the UK and Turkey has been welcomed by industry and governments, boosting confidence in a potential export sale and aid to kickstart more Typhoon production in the UK.

• Air Warfare

  Baykar’s Kizilelma drone makes progress with first air-to-air kill

  1st December 2025

  This test is the latest milestone achieved by the indigenous drone, destroying a target using a beyond-visual-range missile.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace team up on UAS opportunities

  7th November 2025

  The two companies will work together to explore ways to collaborate on the development of uncrewed air systems.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2026: Saudi Arabia’s record defence spend highlights uncertain times

  6th February 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s investment in its land forces, notably in the area of air defence as recently as 30 January, is a sign of the challenges the Gulf State faces, particularly the threat from Houthi rebels in Yemen.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems lauds Turkey-Typhoon talks, says “two to three” years to meet possible Eurofighter production ramp up

  31st July 2025

  The company saw a strong H1 2025 in terms of sales momentum and orders, with CEO Charles Woodburn noting that talks with Turkey on Eurofighter Typhoon were progressing “quickly”.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Libya]

  Programme Background 2022 Reports In October 2022, various Libyan media outlets reported that the country was eyeing a possible procurement from Baykar, possibly the Akinici ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Libya]

  Programme Background Acquired & Lost In 2019 and 2020, the Government of National Accord (GNA) used TB2 units against the Libyanian National Army (LNA). Al Marsad ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Mali]

  Background Presentation In December 2024, Akinci drones were presented to the Malian Armed Forces by transitional President General Assimi Goita during a ceremony in Bamako, confirming ...

• ISR/special mission

  C-208B ISR [Tunisia]

  Programme Background Requirement The acquisition of the C-208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft is part of Tunisia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its ISR capabilities in response ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter [Turkiye]

  Programme Background Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey had already paid $1.4 billion into the programme, while its defence industry has ploughed significant ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Reis Class (1-6) [Turkey]

  Programme Background Turkey is taking delivery of six Reis-class Type 214TN diesel-electric attack (SSK) submarines from German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The new boats ...

• Amphibious assault ships

  TCG Anadolu LHD [Turkey]

  Programme Background TCG Anadolu is a Multipurpose Assault Ship (LHD) built by Sedef in Tuzla for the Turkish Navy. The vessel, which is the single ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Rwanda]

  Programme Background Media Links In October 2021, online reports emerged linking Rwanda with Baykar's TB2 drone. It was reported that the RFF's ongoing experience conducting military ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Fighter - multirole

  TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Requirement Geopolitical factors have spurred aircraft development in Türkiye. With its removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project following the Russian S-400 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar Kizilelma [Turkey]

  Background Added to inventory Speaking at SAHA 2026, Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar stated that the Bayraktar Kilzilelma would be added to Turkey’s inventory in 2026. When ...

• Trainer

  KT-1T - Turkey

  In 2007, Turkey bought 40 KT-1 aircraft under a $400 million deal that puts average unit cost estimate around $10 million per platform.The first five ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Ada Class Corvettes (3-4) [Ukraine]

  It was announced in December 2020 that Ukraine had ordered an undisclosed number of corvettes from Turkey. It was later disclosed that the December 2020 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Ada Class Corvettes (3-4) [Ukraine]

  It was announced in December 2020 that Ukraine had ordered an undisclosed number of corvettes from Turkey. It was later disclosed that the December 2020 ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Bayraktar Kizilelma [Turkey]

  Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar stated at SAHA 2026 that the Bayraktar Kilzilelma would be added to Turkey’s inventory in 2026. Based on the estimated figures from ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Bayraktar Mini

  The Bayraktar Mini UAS is used for short-range ISR applications and can be deployed in harsh environments. It is hand launched and is powered by ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Firtina

  The Fırtına 155mm/52cal tracked SPH is a Turkish-built version of the Samsung Techwin (now Hanwha) K9 Thunder. Production began in 2001, and it is estimated that more ...

• Trainer

  SF-260

  The SF-260 is a piston-engined or turboprop-powered screener/primary trainer that made its first flight in July 1964. It is a single-engine, low-mounted, cantilever-wing aircraft with ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ACV-15

  The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) is the generic designation for a tracked, diesel engine powered, heavy armoured platform in the 13-15 tons class, capable of ...

• Fighter - ground attack

  Su-24

  The Su-24 (NATO reporting name Fencer) is a fighter-bomber aircraft designed to meet Soviet Air Force requirements to replace the Yak-28. Its variants include tactical ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kirpi I/Kirpi II

  The Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) selected BMC's 350-16 Z Kirpi (Hedgehog) 4x4 MRAP vehicle to meet its requirements following a competitive evaluation and ordered ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  Brimstone

  MBDA developed the Brimstone missile to provide an air-to-surface missile to equip UK RAF Tornados. The Dual Mode Brimstone (DMB) semi-active laser and the millimetre-wave, ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Kargu

  The Kargu, or Kargu-2, is a quadcopter loitering munition and UAS manufactured by Turkish company STM. The platform is designed for asymmetric warfare or anti-terrorist ...

• Main battle tanks

  Upgraded M60

  IMI's Upgraded M60, originally known as the Sabra, is rooted in the company's experience upgrading M48 and M60 MBTs to the Magach standard for the Israel ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5A/B Freedom Fighter

  The F-5A (single-seat)/B (twin-seat) is a supersonic fighter aircraft developed by Northrop originally to meet the USN's requirement for a light jet to operate from ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Dana-M1 CZ

  The Dana was developed in the 1970s by Konštrukta Trencín to provide the Czechoslovakian government with a locally built alternative to Soviet artillery systems. More ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Attila

  The Attila is a wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. Unveiled at SAHA 2026, the Attila is intended to provide Turkey with a ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ARES 2-NC Compact ESM System

  The Aselsan ARES 2-NC Naval Platform Compact ESM System has been designed specifically for attack boats. Offering the capabilities of detection, interception, classification and tracking of ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Multi Role Tactical Platform (MRTP) 16

  The Multi Role Tactical Platform (MRTP) 16 is an interceptor craft designed by Yonca Onuk JV. A number of units are currently on active duty ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Vuran

  A prototype of the Vuran 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle was first exhibited in 2009, but the design continued to evolve until 2018 when the production ...