SAHA Bulletin
SAHA İstanbul Joins KOTRA's Gyeongnam–Türkiye Defence Industry Trade Delegation Programme
SAHA İstanbul took part in the Gyeongnam–Türkiye Defence Industry Trade Delegation Programme, organised in Istanbul on 3 November 2026 by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). The programme brought SAHA İstanbul together with representatives of South Korean companies and a delegation led by Dr. Roh Dong Woo, Director of the Defence Division at Gyeongnam Technopark (GNTP).
During the meetings, SAHA İstanbul presented an overview of the Turkish defence industry and the cluster's activities to the delegation. Thanking KOTRA for the invitation, SAHA İstanbul said it hoped these contacts would pave the way for new strategic partnerships between Türkiye and South Korea.
Source: SAHA İstanbul (LinkedIn)
SAHA Akademi Magazine Publishes Its Fourth Issue
The fourth issue of SAHA Akademi Magazine has been published. The new issue features assessments by industry leaders on defence, aerospace and high technology, original articles, and research projects by participants of the 2025–2026 SAHA Akademi MBA Programme.
The new issue of the magazine is available at sahaakademi.com/saha-akademi-dergisi.
Source: SAHA Akademi (LinkedIn)
Türkiye's Defence and Aerospace Exports Grow 4.4-Fold in Five Years
Türkiye's defence and aerospace industry exports rose from $2.279 billion in 2020 to $10.016 billion in 2025, according to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM). According to an analysis published by Anadolu Agency on 6 November, the sector recorded nominal growth every year in the 2020–2025 period, growing about 4.4-fold in five years; 2025 was the first year in the TİM series in which the $10 billion threshold was exceeded.
| Year | Exports ($ billion) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.279 |
| 2021 | 3.225 |
| 2022 | 4.396 |
| 2023 | 5.546 |
| 2024 | 6.735 |
| 2025 | 10.016 |
The sector's share of Türkiye's total exports rose from 1.5% in 2020 to 4.2% in 2025. Exports of $2.571 billion in December 2025 were recorded in TİM data as the highest monthly sector exports up to that date. Growth continued in 2026: exports in January–October 2026 reached $8.05 billion, exceeding the same period of the previous year by 20.2%. According to monthly data announced on 3 November, exports in October 2026 alone amounted to $1.14 billion, a 61% increase on October 2025.
Behind the growth is the increasing presence in foreign markets of air, land and naval platforms, munitions, electronic systems and related industrial capabilities. Total sector figures, however, do not on their own show the breakdown of exports by manufacturer, country or platform; signed contract values and exports realised through customs are also separate indicators. In different institutional statements, 2025 exports are also given as approximately $10.05 billion; the series in this story is based on AA's TİM compilation dated 6 November.
Source: AA, 6 November · AA English, 6 November · AA, 3 November – October exports
ASELSAN Signs $1.1B Air Defence Export Contract
In a filing with the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) on 3 November, ASELSAN announced that it had signed an export contract for air defence systems worth $1.1 billion with an international customer. The customer country, product models, quantities and delivery schedule were not disclosed. The contract is a new export commitment that will turn into deliveries in future periods; it is a separate indicator from the October export data.
Source: AA, 3 November · AA, 4 November
STM Showcases National Warship Designs and Unmanned Naval Systems at EURONAVAL
At the EURONAVAL 2026 exhibition in Paris, STM presented its national warship designs, NETA and other unmanned naval solutions to international visitors. The company's presence at the exhibition was a promotional activity aimed at the European naval defence market; no new export contract was announced during the exhibition.
Source: Anadolu Agency
ASELSAN Exhibits Deployable GÖKDENİZ and Naval Defence Solutions at EURONAVAL
At EURONAVAL 2026, ASELSAN presented its modular naval air defence and electro-optical solutions, led by the deployable GÖKDENİZ configuration. The presentation focused on a defence architecture that can be deployed on ships temporarily and easily.
Source: Anadolu Agency
Bayraktar TB2 Hits Targets with Skydagger FPV Drones
According to a Baykar statement on 4 November, Bayraktar TB2 took off with 16 Skydagger FPV drones as part of a test; two of them were released in the air, guided to their targets and hit them. The test was a demonstration of TB2's capability to serve as a carrier and release platform for small kamikaze drones.
Source: Baykar
Two More HÜRKUŞ-II Aircraft Accepted, Bringing Inventory to Four
The number of HÜRKUŞ-II aircraft in the Air Force inventory has risen to four with the acceptance of two additional aircraft. The development was reported on 4 November and was also included in the Ministry of National Defence's weekly briefing on 5 November. The new acceptances were the second delivery step in the programme, following the first two aircraft received in October.
Source: Ministry of National Defence · Anadolu Agency
Nurol Makina YETİŞEN Light Armoured Vehicle Enters Service in Türkiye for the First Time
It was announced on 4 November that Nurol Makina's NMS-L-based YETİŞEN light armoured vehicle has entered service in Türkiye. The development marks the stage at which the platform has reached users in the domestic market.
Source: Anadolu Agency
GEZGİN-1 Microsatellite Targets Launch in Final Quarter of 2028
TÜBİTAK UZAY announced the final quarter of 2028 as the launch target for GEZGİN-1, a sub-75-kilogram microsatellite platform. Prominent applications of the satellite include multispectral imaging, AI-assisted on-orbit image processing and maritime surveillance. The announced date reflects the planned project schedule.
Source: Anadolu Agency · TÜBİTAK UZAY
Kale Jet Engines Delivers 1,000th KJ Engine, Announces New Turbofan Targets
The 1,000th delivery of KJ Series turbojet engines, used in national missiles, took place at a ceremony on 5 November. A day earlier, Kale had also shared its new turbojet and turbofan engine development targets. The 1,000th delivery is a concrete milestone reached in serial production, while the new prototype and turbofan work forms the company's forward-looking R&D roadmap.
Source: AA, 5 November · SavunmaSanayiST, 4 November
Technical Details of ASELSAN MERCAN 100 Submarine Optronic Mast Released
The reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities provided by the daytime camera, MWIR and SWIR sensors of ASELSAN's MERCAN 100 submarine optronic system were made public on 5 November. The system was also exhibited at the ASELSAN stand at EURONAVAL 2026.
Source: Anadolu Agency
MKE Aims to Integrate TOLGA Close-In Air Defence System into Merchant Ships
At EURONAVAL 2026, Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE) announced that it aims to adapt the TOLGA close-in air defence system for the protection of merchant ships. MKE International Marketing and Sales Director Ali Hakan Şafak said the system, a 20 mm twin-barrel revolver design, has a rate of fire of 3,200 rounds per minute and an effective range of 1,000 metres with the company's fragmentation ammunition. TOLGA was integrated into a warship and fired at air and surface targets during the TURNAs-2026 exercise in October; integration into merchant ships is a target still at the study stage.
Source: Anadolu Agency
India Signs Contracts for Eight Next-Generation Corvettes
India's Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth a total of INR 53,866.50 crore for the construction of eight next-generation corvettes. Five of the ships will be built by GRSE and three by Goa Shipyard.
Greece Orders Three KC-390 Millennium Aircraft
Embraer announced that Greece had placed a firm order for three C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft and that the contract includes three additional options. The first delivery is targeted for 2027.
Saab Unveils CB90 CX Multi-Role Combat Boat
Saab unveiled the Combat Boat 90 CX in three configurations for ISR, surface warfare and short-range air defence. The boat features an optionally crewed operating architecture.
Saab Announces Flight-Tested AI Agents on Gripen E
Saab announced that the artificial intelligence agents it has developed for next-generation combat aircraft systems have been flight-tested on the Gripen E. The work focuses on tactical decision support for the pilot.
BAE Systems Unveils Sea Tridon 40 mm Naval Gun System
At EURONAVAL 2026, BAE Systems unveiled Sea Tridon, a new modular 40 mm naval gun system. The system offers programmable ammunition and containerised modular installation options.
France Launches Long-Range Uncrewed Underwater Demonstrator
The French Defence Innovation Agency (AID) has launched the development of an ocean-scale, multi-purpose uncrewed underwater vehicle demonstrator with Naval Group. Testing is targeted for 2028.
Helsing Transfers MissionOSBw Source Code to Germany
German defence technology company Helsing has transferred ownership of the source code of MissionOSBw, the battle management software it developed for the Bundeswehr, to Germany.
US Extends $150M Conditional Loan to LeoLabs for Space Radars
The Pentagon has committed a $150 million conditional loan to space situational awareness company LeoLabs to expand its ground-based radar network.
NATO Launches Procurement Marketplace for Counter-Drone Technologies
NATO has launched a procurement platform called C-UAS Marketplace to enable allies to procure pre-screened counter-UAS solutions more quickly.
RENK's Nine-Month Order Intake Grows 33.6%
German transmission and drive systems manufacturer RENK announced that its order intake rose 33.6% in the first nine months of 2026. The company's total portfolio of orders and framework agreements stands at approximately €7.6 billion.
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