The defense and aerospace industry broke a new record with an export figure of $5.5 billion in 2023.
The development of the Turkish defense and aerospace industry in recent years ensures that platforms, systems and capabilities in many fields attract attention in foreign markets. This situation contributes to the steady increase in the export performance of the sector in recent years.
According to the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, the sector, which increased its export record to $4.4 billion last year, reached $4.8 billion as of November this year and broke a new record. The defense and aerospace industry, which achieved an export figure of $5.5 billion in all of 2023, recorded its second record this year and further improved its export figure.
The sector increased its exports by approximately 27% last year compared to the previous year.
The export target of the sector last year was announced as $6 billion.
The Turkish defense industry stood out in exports throughout the year, especially with products such as unmanned aerial vehicles, armored vehicles, naval platforms, ammunition and weapon systems. Strengthening its presence in export countries, the sector also gained new customers this year.
Turkiye exports more than 230 defense industry products to approximately 170 countries. The aviation industry also exports aircraft structures, equipment and maintenance-repair services for the world’s leading platform manufacturers.
Historical export success and products exported for the first time
Unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer Baykar signed the largest defense and aviation export contract in the history of the Republic of Turkiye in Saudi Arabia last year.
PD170, the military turbodiesel engine that powers national UAVs, achieved its first export success last year.
Bayraktar AKINCI was added to the unmanned aerial vehicles exported by the Turkish defense industry. The number of countries with which agreements were signed during the year reached 8.
The first export of the unmanned aerial vehicle BAHA was to Africa. TOGAN, the spotter unmanned aerial vehicle developed within the Turkish defense industry, made its first export in Africa. The first choice for the national strike unmanned aerial vehicle ALPAGU was an overseas customer.
Last year, the industry signed an international mass production contract for the first time in the field of tank systems. Export contracts were signed for both land and sea versions of the air defense systems.
The first international delivery of the HAKIM Air Command and Control System was made. The first export of the software-based national marine radio was made.
The number of countries to which Bayraktar TB2 and Bayraktar AKINCI and CATS cameras were exported exceeded 10. The first export of the “DIAMOND screen” was made by integrating it into the ATAK Helicopter cockpit.
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz