Turkish defense exports keep upward momentum, rise 10.7% in September
The Bayraktar TB2 drone developed by Turkish defense giant Baykar is seen in this photo released on Sept. 18, 2026. (DHA Photo)


The exports from the Turkish defense and aerospace sector maintained a positive momentum, rising by 10.7% in September compared to the same month a year earlier, an official said on Saturday.

Rolling annualized exports, at the same time, approached the figure of $11 billion (TL 540.40 billion), the official said.

"Our rise in exports continues," Haluk Görgün, the head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), wrote in a social media post.

"In September, our defense and aerospace industry exports increased by 10.7% compared to the same month last year, reaching $634 million, and for the first nine months of the year, they rose by 15.6% to $6.92 billion," Görgün noted.

He also reported that exports over the past 12 months totaled $10.94 billion, marking an increase of 30%.

The sector, which has positively differentiated itself and strongly contributes to the country's overall exports, also plays a notable role by boosting its share of advanced and high-tech exports in the shipments. The total exports from Türkiye rose 15.4% on a yearly basis to $26 billion in September, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat announced on Saturday.

Last year, for the first time, the defense and aerospace sector surpassed $10 billion in exports as it managed to lift sales by nearly 50% compared to 2024.

"Behind these figures are our high-value-added products, our engineering expertise, our production capabilities, and the partnerships we have developed in different regions around the world," Görgün, who serves as the head of the agency uniting and coordinating defense activities, contracts and exports, said.

"Under the coordination of our presidency, we are continuing our export-focused efforts with determination and are working to further strengthen the effectiveness of our defense industry in international markets," he added.

"On behalf of our entire ecosystem, I would like to express my gratitude to our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his support of our defense industry. I congratulate all of our companies and colleagues who contributed to this success," he concluded.

Years of investments have helped Türkiye transform from a nation heavily reliant on equipment from abroad to one where homegrown systems meet almost all of its defense industry needs.

The capabilities of its defense platforms, led by its combat drones, helped it seal billions of dollars' worth of export deals in recent years.