Turkey’s defense and aviation exports reached $5.5 billion in 2023, up 30% from 2022. Export growth is concentrated in areas like drones and missile systems, while other segments move more slowly. The figures below map which programs are driving the gains and where domestication changes the outcome.
Key Takeaways
- Turkey's defense industry exports reached $5.5 billion in 2023, marking a 30% increase from 2022
- Turkish defense industry revenue hit TL 200 billion in 2023
- ASELSAN produced 500+ Koral EW systems for domestic and export in 2023
- ASELSAN invested TL 5 billion in R&D in 2023, representing 10% of revenue
- ASELSAN employed 8,000+ personnel in 2023, with 40% in engineering roles
Turkey’s defense industry grew steadily in 2023, highlighting rising production and export momentum.
Related reading
01 · Category
Export and Trade30 stats
01
Turkey's defense industry exports reached $5.5 billion in 2023, marking a 30% increase from 2022
02
Baykar exported 200+ Bayraktar TB2 UAVs to 32 countries by end of 2023, generating over $1.2 billion in revenue
03
ASELSAN's international sales accounted for 45% of its total revenue in 2023, totaling $1.1 billion
04
Turkey ranked 11th globally in defense exports for 2018-2022 with $4.4 billion in arms transfers according to SIPRI
05
Roketsan secured export contracts worth $500 million for SOM cruise missiles to Middle Eastern countries in 2023
06
TAI delivered 12 Anka-S UAVs to export customers including Azerbaijan and Tunisia valued at $150 million in 2022-2023
07
Turkey's defense exports to Africa grew by 150% from 2020 to 2023, reaching $800 million annually
08
STM exported 4 Ada-class corvettes to Pakistan under MILGEM project worth $1 billion total in 2023 phase
09
Turkish defense firms signed 250 export contracts in 2023 totaling $4.5 billion with 85 countries
10
HAVELSAN exported command-control systems to 18 countries generating $300 million in 2023
11
Turkey imported $2.1 billion in defense equipment in 2023, down 15% from previous year due to localization efforts
12
Defense exports contributed 0.5% to Turkey's total GDP in 2023
13
Bayraktar Akinci UAV export orders exceeded $2 billion from 12 countries by mid-2024
14
Otokar exported 200+ Arma 8x8 vehicles to 10 countries since 2015
15
Turkey's drone exports led by Baykar accounted for 70% of total UAV exports globally in 2023
16
FNSS exported Pars III wheeled vehicles to Oman worth $250 million in 2023
17
Turkish Aerospace exported Hürkuş trainer aircraft to Indonesia, 12 units for $100 million
18
Defense trade surplus reached $3.4 billion in 2023 for Turkey
19
Katmerciler exported 50+ Hızır tactical vehicles to African nations in 2023
20
Turkey supplied 100+ Bayraktar TB2 to Ukraine since 2022, valued at $500 million
21
ASELSAN's export growth rate was 25% YoY in Q4 2023
22
Roketsan exported Cirit laser-guided rockets to Philippines, 300 units for $20 million
23
TAI's Hürjet jet trainer has export deals with 3 countries for 40 units total
24
Turkish defense exports to Asia-Pacific rose 40% to $1 billion in 2023
25
BMC exported Kirpi MRAP vehicles to Qatar, 200 units worth $150 million
26
Turkey's share in global defense market exports reached 1.5% in 2023
27
STM's Marlin SİSA unmanned surface vessel exported to Southeast Asia, 5 units $50 million
28
Nurol Makina exported Ejder Yalçın vehicles to Georgia, 100 units $40 million
29
Turkish defense industry signed MoUs with 50 countries at IDEF 2023 fair
30
Altınay exported robotic systems for defense to Europe, $100 million in 2023
Interpretation
Export and Trade Interpretation
While Turkey is quietly becoming the world's favorite arms dealer, proving that drones, corvettes, and geopolitical savvy now export far better than baklava and sunsets.
02 · Category
Financial and Economic Impact24 stats
01
Turkish defense industry revenue hit TL 200 billion in 2023
02
ASELSAN net profit TL 15 billion in 2023, up 50% YoY
03
Defense budget allocation to industry TL 100 billion in 2023
04
Baykar valuation exceeded $5 billion from export revenues by 2023
05
Roketsan turnover TL 10 billion with 20% profit margin in 2023
06
TAI revenues TL 25 billion driven by MMU and Anka programs in 2023
07
Industry localization saved $10 billion in imports from 2018-2023
08
HAVELSAN EBITDA TL 3 billion in 2023 from software exports
09
Otokar market cap TL 20 billion on BIST in 2023
10
FNSS parent Nurol Holding defense revenue TL 15 billion in 2023
11
STM profits doubled to TL 2 billion on naval projects in 2023
12
Defense industry FDI attracted $1 billion from Qatar and others in 2023
13
ASELSAN dividends distributed TL 5 billion to shareholders in 2023
14
Bayraktar exports contributed TL 40 billion to economy since inception to 2023
15
SSB project funding TL 50 billion for 500+ initiatives in 2023
16
Roketsan R&D spend TL 2 billion equaling 20% of turnover in 2023
17
TAI secured TL 30 billion in new contracts at IDEF 2023
18
Industry tax contributions TL 20 billion to state budget in 2023
19
HAVELSAN venture investments in startups TL 500 million in 2023
20
Altay tank project cost TL 15 billion with series production funding approved 2023
21
Baykar reinvested 100% profits into expansion in 2023
22
Defense sector multiplier effect created TL 500 billion economic output in 2023
23
Otokar export financing via EXIM bank TL 5 billion in 2023
24
FNSS joint venture revenues TL 10 billion from international plants 2023
Interpretation
Financial and Economic Impact Interpretation
Turkey’s defense industry, once a net importer, has become a formidable economic engine, proving that national security and a thriving, self-sufficient industrial base can be built simultaneously when you stop buying and start building your own gear.
03 · Category
Production and Deliveries30 stats
01
ASELSAN produced 500+ Koral EW systems for domestic and export in 2023
02
Baykar delivered 400 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs to Turkish Armed Forces since 2014
03
TAI manufactured 20 Anka UAVs in 2023 at its Kazan facility
04
Roketsan produced 10,000+ Cirit 70mm rockets in 2023
05
Otokar delivered 300 Altay tank prototypes and components in phased production 2023
06
FNSS produced 200 Pars III 8x8 vehicles for Turkish Army in 2023
07
HAVELSAN delivered 50+ ADVENT NGS combat management systems to Turkish Navy in 2023
08
STM completed construction of 2nd Ada-class corvette TCG Burgazada delivery in 2023
09
Turkish Aerospace produced 4 Hürkuş-C armed trainers in 2023
10
Roketsan manufactured 500 SOM-J cruise missiles for integration on F-16s by 2023
11
ASELSAN supplied 1,000+ Aselsanpong electro-optical systems to land platforms in 2023
12
Baykar's Bayraktar Akıncı production rate reached 6 units per month in 2023
13
TAI delivered 2 Hürjet prototypes for testing in 2023
14
Katmerciler produced 150 Hızır 4x4 vehicles for export and domestic in 2023
15
BMC manufactured 250 Kirpi MRAPs at its adapted automotive plant in 2023
16
Nurol Makina delivered 100 Ejder Yalçın 4x4 to Gendarmerie in 2023
17
Roketsan produced 200+ Atmaca anti-ship missiles in initial series 2023
18
ASELSAN's Hisar-A air defense systems reached 50 units produced by 2023
19
TAI's ANKA-3 stealth UCAV first prototype rolled out in 2023
20
Otokar produced 100+ Tulpar IFVs for testing and series in 2023
21
FNSS delivered 50+ medium weight tanks in Kaplan MT prototype phase 2023
22
HAVELSAN integrated 20+ simulators for F-16 fleet in 2023
23
STM produced 10 Marlin USVs for Navy trials in 2023
24
Baykar commenced mass production of Kizilelma unmanned fighter in 2023 hangar
25
Roketsan achieved 1,000+ TRG-230 rocket production milestone in 2023
26
ASELSAN delivered 300+ Korkut self-propelled AA guns components in 2023
27
TAI manufactured 15+ Aksungur MALE UAVs in 2023
28
Turkish industry localized 75% of Altay tank engine production by 2023
29
BMC produced 100+ Vuran 4x4 MRAPs for special forces in 2023
30
Katmerciler delivered 80+ Khan 6x6 tactical vehicles in 2023
Interpretation
Production and Deliveries Interpretation
Turkey's defence industry is now juggling EW systems, drones, and missiles with the same casual, prolific ease as a baker tossing out loaves of bread, except these loaves can win wars.
More related reading
04 · Category
Research & Development27 stats
01
ASELSAN invested TL 5 billion in R&D in 2023, representing 10% of revenue
02
TAI's R&D budget exceeded $200 million in 2023 for next-gen aircraft
03
Roketsan filed 150+ patents in missile technologies in 2023
04
Baykar allocated 15% of revenue to R&D for AI-integrated drones in 2023
05
HAVELSAN's software R&D team grew to 2,000 engineers working on C4ISR in 2023
06
SSB funded 300+ R&D projects with TL 20 billion in 2023
07
Turkish defense industry published 500+ technical papers at international conferences in 2023
08
ASELSAN established 5 new R&D centers focusing on EW and optics in 2023
09
TAI collaborated with 20 universities on composite materials R&D for TF-X in 2023
10
Roketsan's hypersonic missile R&D achieved Mach 5+ wind tunnel tests in 2023
11
Baykar's AI autonomy R&D enabled Level 4 autonomy in TB3 UAV by 2023
12
STM invested in quantum computing for cryptography R&D with $50 million in 2023
13
Defense industry R&D expenditure reached 2% of total defense budget in 2023
14
Otokar developed hybrid-electric drive R&D prototype for Altay tank in 2023
15
FNSS R&D on active protection systems integrated into Pars vehicles in 2023
16
HAVELSAN's VR/AR simulation R&D used in 50+ training programs in 2023
17
Turkish firms secured 100+ EU R&D grants for dual-use technologies in 2023
18
Roketsan tested solid-fuel ramjet engine R&D for longer-range missiles in 2023
19
ASELSAN's laser weapon R&D achieved 50kW output prototype in 2023
20
TAI's 6th gen fighter R&D concepts presented at IDEF 2023
21
Baykar patented 50+ drone swarm algorithms in 2023
22
SSB launched 50 hypersonic and space R&D initiatives in 2023
23
Defense R&D personnel numbered 25,000+ engineers in 2023
24
Katmerciler R&D on autonomous ground vehicles tested in 2023
25
BMC collaborated with TÜBİTAK on armored vehicle materials R&D in 2023
26
Nurol Makina's smart armor R&D integrated reactive tiles in 2023 prototypes
27
Turkish defense R&D localization reached 90% for critical subsystems by 2023
Interpretation
Research & Development Interpretation
Turkey's defense sector is putting its money where its mouth is, not with bluster but with billions, brains, and patents, feverishly upgrading from a regional player's toolkit to a global innovator's lab.
05 · Category
Workforce and Employment29 stats
01
ASELSAN employed 8,000+ personnel in 2023, with 40% in engineering roles
02
TAI workforce grew to 15,000 employees in 2023, up 20% YoY
03
Baykar has 4,000+ engineers dedicated to UAV design and production in 2023
04
Roketsan staff reached 5,500 including 1,500 PhDs and masters in 2023
05
Turkish defense industry total employment hit 300,000 jobs in 2023
06
HAVELSAN employed 2,500 software specialists in 2023
07
Otokar has 3,500 workers across 3 plants in 2023
08
FNSS workforce of 2,000 with focus on mechanical engineers grew 15% in 2023
09
STM employed 1,200 high-tech specialists in 2023
10
Turkish defense sector created 50,000 new jobs from 2020-2023
11
ASELSAN trained 1,000+ new engineers via academy in 2023
12
TAI's apprenticeship program engaged 2,000 students in 2023
13
Baykar recruited 1,000+ AI and software devs in 2023 expansion
14
Roketsan women engineers ratio reached 25% of technical staff in 2023
15
Defense industry SMEs employ 150,000 indirect workers via supply chain in 2023
16
HAVELSAN's average employee tenure is 12 years with 90% retention in 2023
17
Otokar upskilled 500 welders and machinists in 2023 programs
18
FNSS hired 300+ from top universities for R&D in 2023
19
STM's intern program hosted 500 students contributing to projects in 2023
20
Turkish defense avg salary for engineers TL 50,000/month in 2023
21
Baykar's Ukrayna factory employed 200 Turkish experts in 2023
22
Roketsan partnered with vocational schools training 1,000 apprentices yearly
23
ASELSAN's PhD ratio in workforce 10% in 2023
24
TAI expanded workforce by 3,000 for MMU project in 2023
25
Industry avg age of employees 35 years with 60% under 40 in 2023
26
HAVELSAN certified 1,500 staff in cybersecurity in 2023
27
Otokar blue-collar workers 70% of total 3,500 in 2023
28
FNSS diversity program increased female ratio to 20% in 2023
29
STM R&D staff 70% of total employees in 2023
Interpretation
Workforce and Employment Interpretation
Turkey's defense sector is now a formidable engine of high-tech job creation, where cultivating thousands of specialized engineers and skilled workers isn't just a hiring spree, but a strategic mobilization of national brainpower for sovereign strength.
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
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Turkish Defence Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/turkish-defence-industry-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Turkish Defence Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/turkish-defence-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Turkish Defence Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/turkish-defence-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
ssb.gov.tr
baykartech.com
aselsan.com.tr
sipri.org
roketsan.com.tr
tai.com.tr
defensenews.com
stm.com.tr
havelsan.com.trtuik.gov.tr
otokar.com.tr
reuters.com
fnss.com.tr
katmerciler.com.tr
bmc.com.tr
nurolmakina.com.tr
idex.ae
altinay.com.tr
defence turkey.com
ec.europa.eumevzuat.gov.tr
bloomberg.com
borsaistanbul.com
nurol.com.trinvest.gov.trgib.gov.treximbank.gov.tr