Buoyed by drones, NATO deals, Turkey defense exports hit record $7.1B

Ezgi Akin

Jan 3, 2025

A Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drone is on view during a presentation at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Siauliai, Lithuania, on July 6, 2022. - Lithuania on July 6, 2022 exhibited a crowdfunded Turkish-made military drone that it plans to send to Ukraine to help the war-torn country fight Russia's invasion. People in the NATO member country raised 5.9 million euros for the Bayraktar TB2 drone over three days last month, before its Turkish manufacturer Baykar announced it would donate the drone free of cha — A Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drone is displayed during a presentation at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Siauliai, Lithuania, on July 6, 2022. — PETRAS MALUKAS/AFP via Getty Images

ANKARA — Turkey’s defense industry exports surpassed $7.1 billion last year, the head of Turkey's Defense Industry Agency (SSB) announced Friday, marking a significant milestone.

“In 2024, our defense and aviation industry exports, including NATO and service exports, reached a new record by increasing by 29%, reaching $7.154 billion,” SSB Chairman Haluk Gorgun wrote on X.

The figure exceeded Turkey’s 2024 defense export target of $6.5 billion.

Gorgun also noted that Turkey exported defense products to 180 countries but did not provide further details.

Turkey is poised to further increase its defense exports. A leading international arms fair held in October resulted in export agreements totaling $4.6 billion.

Turkey’s NATO ally Spain agreed to purchase 24 Hurjet jet trainers, produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), under a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in December.

In the same month, Turkey’s state-owned Defense Technologies Engineering Corporation signed a deal with the Portuguese navy to build two replenishment ships.

The agreements marked the first exports of manned Turkish jets and military vessels to Turkey’s NATO allies.

In 2023, Turkey’s defense exports amounted to $5.5 billion, according to data from the Turkish Presidency’s Defense Industries Directorate.

Leading Turkish defense exporters include TUSAS and Aselsan, the country's top defense electronics company as well as Baykar, which is owned by the family of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s younger son-in-law, Selcuk Bayraktar.

The combined revenues, including exports, of these three companies exceeded $6 billion in 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

In late December, Baykar made headlines by acquiring Italian aviation company Piaggio Aerospace as Turkey’s presence in the European defense market grew.

“The world’s largest UCAV company, Baykar, outbid rivals from several countries in a competitive tender for the sale of Piaggio Aerospace,” the company said in a statement.