Turkey defense exports reached 5.5 billion USD in 2023, up 47% from the prior year, placing the country at 12th globally with a 1.9% market share. Defense procurement totaled 400 billion TRY in 2024, with capital spending making up 45% of the 2023 defense budget. These figures explain why homegrown drones, missiles, and armored systems are gaining traction even as import spending still reaches 15.4 billion USD.
Key Takeaways
- Turkey's defense budget for 2023 was allocated 319.5 billion Turkish Lira, representing 1.5% of GDP
- Turkey's defense industry employed 150,000 people directly in 2023
- Turkey's defense exports hit 5.5 billion USD in 2023, a 47% increase from 2022
- Turkey produced 1,200+ armored vehicles in 2023 at facilities like Otokar
- Turkey invested 1.2 billion USD in defense R&D in 2023
Turkey’s defense industry is rapidly expanding, driven by rising production capabilities and increased export activity.
Related reading
01 · Category
Budget and Expenditure16 stats
01
Turkey's defense budget for 2023 was allocated 319.5 billion Turkish Lira, representing 1.5% of GDP
02
Defense spending increased by 54% in nominal terms from 2022 to 2023 in Turkey
03
In 2024, Turkey's defense procurement budget reached 400 billion TRY under the 11th Development Plan
04
Turkey allocated 2.6% of its total government expenditure to defense in 2023
05
R&D allocation within defense budget was 7.2 billion USD equivalent in 2023 for Turkey
06
Turkey's 2024 defense budget grew 36% year-on-year to 400 billion TRY
07
Capital expenditures in defense accounted for 45% of total defense budget in 2023
08
Turkey's defense industry investment budget surged 120% from 2020 to 2023
09
In 2022, Turkey spent 15.4 billion USD on defense imports despite local production push
10
Defense R&D budget in Turkey was 1.8% of total R&D spending nationally in 2023
11
Turkey's defense budget for 2022 stood at 215 billion TRY, up 25% from prior year
12
Defense budget as % of GDP was 1.4% in 2022 for Turkey
13
2021 defense allocation was 165 billion TRY with focus on localization
14
Turkey's 2020 defense spend hit 12.5 billion USD amid pandemic
15
R&D portion of defense budget reached 5% in 2022
16
Import dependency funding cut by 30% in 2023 budget
Interpretation
Budget and Expenditure Interpretation
Turkey's defense spending has sprinted forward with the urgency of a late student, dramatically boosting investment in homegrown tech while still sneaking a hefty bill for imports under the cafeteria tray.
02 · Category
Employment and Workforce19 stats
01
Turkey's defense industry employed 150,000 people directly in 2023
02
ASELSAN workforce grew to 12,000 engineers and technicians by 2023
03
TUSAŞ (TAI) employed 18,000 personnel with 40% engineers in 2023
04
Roketsan had 4,500 employees focusing on propulsion tech in 2023
05
Defense industry created 25,000 new jobs annually average 2020-2023
06
35% of Turkey's defense workforce are women as of 2023
07
Baykar employs 3,000+ with 70% under 35 years old in 2023
08
Otokar workforce stands at 5,500 including 1,200 R&D staff in 2023
09
Total STEM graduates absorbed into defense sector: 10,000 yearly since 2021
10
Defense SMEs employ 80,000 indirectly supporting primes in 2023
11
BMC workforce totals 7,000 with 2,000 in manufacturing 2023
12
Defense sector unemployment contribution reduced by 0.5% nationally 2023
13
50,000 university students in defense-related programs 2023
14
Roketsan trained 1,000 new engineers via academy in 2023
15
TAI's internship program absorbed 2,500 students into jobs 2023
16
Women in engineering roles: 28% across defense firms 2023
17
Average salary in defense industry 2x national average 2023
18
TEI's engine R&D involved 1,200 specialists in 2023
19
STM employed 2,500 with focus on cyber R&D 2023
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
Turkey's defense industry, now a muscular engine of national ambition, directly employs 150,000 people—a third of them women—while voraciously consuming 10,000 STEM graduates a year, paying them double the average wage, and proving that advanced technology and economic sovereignty are built by training a young, brilliant, and increasingly diverse workforce.
03 · Category
Exports and Sales18 stats
01
Turkey's defense exports hit 5.5 billion USD in 2023, a 47% increase from 2022
02
Baykar exported Bayraktar TB2 to 35 countries by 2024, generating 2 billion USD revenue
03
ASELSAN's export revenue reached 1.2 billion USD in 2023 to Middle East and Africa
04
Turkey ranked 12th globally in defense exports with 1.9% market share in 2023
05
Roketsan exported 1,000+ Cirit missiles to 15 countries since 2019
06
Otokar sold 500+ Arma vehicles to 10 nations including Qatar in 2023
07
TAI's Anka drone exports generated 500 million USD to Tunisia and others by 2023
08
Turkey's land systems exports grew 60% to 1.5 billion USD in 2023
09
Naval exports including Ada-class corvettes to Pakistan worth 1 billion USD by 2023
10
STM's export contracts for Koral EW systems to 5 countries totaled 300 million USD
11
Turkey exported 3.7 billion USD in defense goods in 2022
12
Land vehicles exports: 1 billion USD in 2023 to 20+ countries
13
Air platforms exports grew 80% to 1.8 billion USD in 2023
14
Turkey signed 2 billion USD deals with African nations in 2023
15
FNSS exported Pars III to Oman for 400 million USD in 2023
16
HAVELSAN's simulators exported to 12 countries worth 150M USD 2023
17
Defense industry localization rate hit 80% in exports 2023
18
Electronics exports from ASELSAN: 800M USD in 2022
Interpretation
Exports and Sales Interpretation
Turkey's defense industry, having swapped baklava for ballistic missiles, has officially baked its way into the global arms bazaar with a voracious 47% export surge, proving that while they may still import coffee beans, their drones, missiles, and armored vehicles are decidedly homegrown and highly sought-after.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production and Manufacturing10 stats
01
Turkey produced 1,200+ armored vehicles in 2023 at facilities like Otokar
02
ASELSAN manufactured 500,000 electronic warfare units in 2023 alone
03
TAI delivered 20+ Hürjet light combat aircraft prototypes by end-2023
04
Roketsan produced 2,500+ smart munitions including MAM-L in 2023
05
Turkey's shipyards built 12 corvettes and frigates under MILGEM project by 2024
06
BMC produced 300+ Altay tank hulls awaiting powerpack integration in 2023
07
FNSS manufactured 400 Kirpi MRAP vehicles for export and domestic use in 2023
08
Turkey's UAV production reached 500 Bayraktar TB2 units cumulatively by 2023
09
HAVELSAN delivered 50+ command control systems to Turkish Army in 2023
10
TEI produced 1,000+ PD170 turbodiesel engines for Anka drones in 2023
Interpretation
Production and Manufacturing Interpretation
While Ankara’s defense factories hum with the concrete clang of 1,200 armored vehicles and the precise assembly of over 20 Hürjet fighters, this output represents not just industrial muscle but a determined, almost feverish bid for strategic independence forged in the hard lessons of embargoes and diplomacy.
05 · Category
R&D and Innovation18 stats
01
Turkey invested 1.2 billion USD in defense R&D in 2023
02
2,500+ domestic patents filed in defense tech by Turkish firms in 2023
03
TEI developed indigenous TF6000 turbofan engine with 6,000 lbf thrust in 2023
04
Baykar's AI integration in Kizilelma UCAV achieved 95% autonomy in tests 2023
05
ASELSAN's 3D radar tech reached 500km detection range in 2023 prototypes
06
Roketsan's Tayfun cruise missile range extended to 1,000km via R&D in 2023
07
TAI's Hürkuş-2 achieved supersonic speeds in wind tunnel tests 2023
08
150+ joint ventures with universities for defense R&D in Turkey 2023
09
Indigenous composite materials for Altay tank reduced weight 25% via R&D 2023
10
Turkey's 5th Gen TF-X fighter R&D budget 10 billion USD cumulative 2023
11
1,000+ AI algorithms developed for defense by 2023
12
Indigenous laser weapon ALTAY-LS tested at 10km range 2023
13
Bayraktar Akinci's payload capacity upped to 1,500kg via R&D 2023
14
Otokar's Tulpar IFV hypersonic armor tested successfully 2023
15
75 new materials certified for aerospace use in 2023
16
Quantum radar prototype by ASELSAN detected stealth at 200km 2023
17
SOM-J cruise missile stealth enhanced 40% in wind tunnel 2023
18
Hürjet's fly-by-wire system fully indigenous software 2023
Interpretation
R&D and Innovation Interpretation
Turkey’s defense industry, now bulging with 1.2 billion dollars in R&D muscle, is busy patenting its homework, cooking up quantum radars and homemade jet engines, and generally ensuring its future weapons come with a "Made in Turkey" label and a serious bite.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Helena Kowalczyk. (2026, February 13). Turkey Defense Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/turkey-defense-industry-statistics
MLA
Helena Kowalczyk. "Turkey Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/turkey-defense-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Helena Kowalczyk. 2026. "Turkey Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/turkey-defense-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
24 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level