The 2027 Presidential Annual Program included the targets, activities and projects to be carried out in the defense and aerospace industry next year.
According to the data of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the turnover of the defense and aerospace sector increased 25 times in the last 23 years, reaching 25 billion dollars, and the exports of the sector increased 40 times, reaching 10.1 billion dollars.
Localization efforts in the defense industry continued uninterruptedly. The localization rate, which was 20 percent in 2002, reached 82.3 percent by 2025. The resources allocated to R&D studies have recently exceeded 3 billion dollars, and the sector has become the locomotive of R&D and innovation.
SSB's project volume exceeded 100 billion dollars
In terms of employment, the total number of employees in the defense industry has exceeded 100 thousand. The number of projects carried out by SSB has reached 1500. In 2025, the project volume exceeded 100 billion dollars with the projects whose tender process is ongoing.
While the projects in question are being carried out, the aim is to strengthen the defense industry in a way that will minimize foreign dependency.
In line with this goal, priority is given to the implementation of projects that include products with superior technical features and can address different operational needs and mission areas, and various support mechanisms are implemented to increase sectoral competencies and ensure sustainability.
Efforts to ensure transformation in defense industry technologies continue without slowing down, and investments in future technologies are increasing. While we are going through a period in which the world is rapidly transforming and technological leaps are being made in many areas, road maps are being created for groundbreaking technologies. In this context, project activities are carried out in deep technologies such as quantum, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and hypersonic technologies.
Global competitiveness will be increased
According to the 2027 Presidential Annual Program, Türkiye's defense and security needs will be met by ensuring the maximum use of national technologies and capabilities next year, with the policies to be followed for the defense industry.
The competitiveness of the defense and aerospace industry will be increased on a global scale, and the aim will be to reach a level that produces significant economic value for the country by disseminating the acquired skills to the civilian sector.
In this direction, domestic production competencies, especially sub-components, will be developed in order to eliminate foreign dependency in defense and security needs to the maximum extent. For this purpose, investments of domestic industrial enterprises in the fields of defence, homeland security, aviation and space industry and employment of qualified personnel will be supported.
2 new R&D projects will be launched in artificial intelligence
R&D and P&D activities for military and civilian use will be supported in deep and groundbreaking technologies such as quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and hypersonic technologies.
R&D projects will be carried out in line with the Quantum Technology Roadmap. The execution activities of 8 R&D projects in which artificial intelligence is used as a horizontal technology will continue, and 2 R&D projects will be initiated. Activities will be carried out within the scope of the Quantum Technologies Development Platform Framework Agreement. Projects and OTAĞ activities will be carried out in the field of biotechnology. 3 R&D projects will continue in the field of autonomous system technologies.
Investing in human resources
In order to meet the sector's increasing need for qualified human resources, the educational infrastructure will be strengthened and interest in the defense industry will be increased through technology competitions and programs.
In this context, Competency Analysis and Management Program and Competency Interaction Programs will be carried out. Competency Development Programs will be held for secondary education and university students and professionals. Corporate Academies Union Platform meetings and workshops will be held.
Work will be carried out to strengthen the Defense Industry Employment Portal (Defence Career), Digital Experience Transfer Program (Mentorus) and Digital Learning Management Program (Defence Development, Career Development). International consultancy and training activities will be carried out. Information and promotion regarding the defense industry will be provided by participating in fairs and workshops such as TEKNOFEST, IDEF 2027, Productivity and Technology Fair.
The number of innovation-based entrepreneurial companies that develop high technology in the defense industry will be increased, and large-scale companies will develop domestic supply ecosystems and support entrepreneurship. In coordination with the YETEN 2.0 Project, subcontractor management studies for the development of the domestic ecosystem will be supported by industrialization processes.
Collaborations will be strengthened
Studies will be carried out to bring the Turkish defense industry to a competitive position on a global scale. Defense Industry Cooperation Meeting will be held with 21 countries.
The 2nd NATO Land Armament Main Group 130th Meeting will be hosted by Türkiye. Participation in 15 international defense and security fairs will be provided.
Platforms will be created to strengthen cooperation among industry stakeholders. Provincial meetings and technopark, cluster and organized industrial zone meetings will be held.
SAYGEP Project in cyber security will be implemented
Cyber security needs in both defense and security and civilian areas will be met to the maximum extent with local and competent solutions. By supporting the use and development of domestic products in defense projects, studies will be carried out to ensure cyber security through domestic elements. In order to increase the competence of cyber security companies, the Cyber Field Competence Development and Integration Platform (SAYGEP) Project will be implemented.
As a result of all these activities, it is aimed to increase the localization rate in the defense industry to 84 percent, defense and aerospace exports to 11.5 billion dollars, turnover to 28 billion dollars, and employment to approximately 138 thousand in 2027.
