Turkish defense sector eyes bigger markets

Chairman of the Turkish Defense and Aerospace Industry Exporters' Association Latif Aral Aliş said exports from the country's defense industry are going to increase. Aliş stated that products of the Turkish defense industry have started making a strong impression on international markets and this has effected exports in a positive way, adding that various items and registered high export figures. Emphasizing that exports of Turkey's defense industry will increase in the upcoming period, Aliş said that "there are more than 500 projects in the defense industry today. Actualizing and exporting our R&D projects will show great progress in the Turkish defense industry.

While our exports were around $800 million [TL 1.83 billion] three years ago, they have exceeded $1 billion today. There is a considerable increase in export volume every year." Stating that the Turkish defense industry produced exports valued at approximately $1.10 billion last year, Aliş added that "our exports will come close to $2 billion by the end of the year. We are reaching our target."

Commenting on the rising domestic production of the defense industry, Aliş remarked that "the defense industry union was established by 60 members three years ago. We have 300 members today. We will have almost 400 members by the end of the year. Every month, 10 new exporters become members. We learned how to ride the bicycle. From now on, we will produce our own bicycles and ride them."