Turkey's defense industry exports and the sector's weight in the economy are growing

According to a report published by BBVA Research, while global defense demand enters a structural period, Turkey's defense sector exports reached $10 billion in 2025 and the localization rate in missile and rocket production exceeded 90%.

Global Defense Demand

Global defense demand is entering a more structural period under the influence of geopolitical tensions, rising military expenditures, and the transformation in warfare technologies.

Europe's Capacity Gaps

It was stated that despite having a strong infrastructure, Europe faces significant bottlenecks in terms of production scale, speed, and the replenishment of stockpiles.

It was reported that Europe's most prominent capacity gaps are concentrated in integrated air defense, UAV systems, and long-range firepower.

Alignment Between Turkey and Europe

Attention was drawn to the fact that the complementarity of defense capacities between Turkey and Europe does not automatically mean access to the European market.

It was conveyed that the EU's procurement rules and local content requirements under SAFE create limitations for suppliers.

Export and Employment Figures

Indicating that the weight of defense-related sectors in Turkey's economy is increasing, it was stated that exports reached $10 billion in 2025.

It was recorded that the localization rate in missile and rocket production rose above 90% and approximately 176,700 people are employed in these sectors.

Diverse Geographical Markets

It was stated that Turkey's defense industry opportunities are not limited to Europe and that export markets are diversifying toward Africa, Asia, and Gulf countries.

Future Competitive Power

It was emphasized that Turkey's future competitive power will depend on the progress it achieves in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and advanced technologies.