Turkish defense exports rose 30 percent in the first two months of the year compared to the same period last year, according to statistics released by the Turkish Exporters' Assembly on Friday. The country's defense exports for January to February 2016 are valued at over $255.9 million, a 30 percent increase compared to the $196.4 million from the same period last year.

The U.S. remained Turkey's largest importer, at $87.4 million, accounting for 34 percent of defense exports, followed by Germany with $30.4 million and the United Arab Emirates with expenditures of around $25.8 million. The defense exports included aircraft and helicopter parts, engines, armored vehicles, speed boats, missiles, rockets, launching platforms, command and control systems, light weapons, light weaponry and electronic systems including transmitters, simulators, sensors and military software.

Defense industry products make up only 1.3 percent of overall exports, which were valued at $20.4 billion in the first two months of 2016.