Turkey’s Defense Exports Soar to $8.5B in 2025

DID Press: Turkey’s defense and aerospace exports reached a record $8.5 billion in 2025, underscoring Ankara’s growing role in the global arms market, particularly in the rapidly expanding field of unmanned aerial systems.

Haluk Görgün, head of Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries, said armed drones such as the Bayraktar TB2, Akıncı, and Anka have become the backbone of the country’s military exports. According to Görgün, Turkish-made drones now account for nearly 60 percent of the global drone market—an unprecedented share that highlights Turkey’s rising influence in regional and international security dynamics.

Turkey’s drone industry has gained prominence over the past decade due to its operational effectiveness, relatively low cost, and adaptability across diverse combat environments. Turkish drones have been deployed or exported to multiple regions, including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia, reshaping battlefield tactics and altering military balances.

As part of this expansion, new footage released by Turkish authorities showcased the operational capabilities of the Anka-3 drone, demonstrating advances in endurance, precision strike capacity, and electronic warfare integration. Officials say such technological developments have strengthened Turkey’s competitiveness against established defense exporters.

Analysts note that the surge in exports reflects not only technological progress but also Ankara’s strategic use of defense diplomacy, leveraging arms sales to deepen political and security ties with partner countries.

With global demand for drones and cost-effective military systems continuing to rise, Turkey appears well-positioned to further expand its footprint in the international defense market in the coming years.