IDA Türkiye 2026 Defense and Aviation Industrial Cooperation Days event, of which Anadolu Agency (AA) is the Global Communication Partner, opened its doors at Congresium Ankara.
The opening ceremony of the event organized by OSTİM Defense and Aviation Cluster (OSSA) with the support of the Ministry of National Defense and the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) was attended by SSB President Haluk Görgün, Spain Valencia Region Deputy Minister of Industry Felipe Javier Carrasco Torres, OSSA Chairman İbrahim Yarsan, OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone Chairman Orhan Aydın, Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) President Seyit Ardıç, Ankara Chamber of Commerce. (ATO) President Gürsel Baran and many local and foreign business people attended.
"HÜRJET will be put into service of NATO ally and friendly countries"
In his speech at the opening of the event, Haluk Görgün stated that OSTİM and the OSSA Cluster within it contribute to the development of the defense industry, and emphasized that international SME events are an important and innovative model that will increase the interaction of industrialists.
Expressing his satisfaction that Spain is the first partner country of the new cooperation model, Görgün touched upon the recent strategic developments between the two countries.
Stating that HÜRJET was preferred by Spain with great appreciation, Görgün said:
"Our most striking cooperation with Spain is that our HÜRJET aircraft was preferred with great appreciation by the Spanish Air Force and we implemented it with the agreement we made with Spain with the 'Spanishized' version of HÜRJET at some point. The first versions of HÜRJET will be produced and delivered at TAI. But with the contributions of subcontractors existing in Spain and their separate certification there, we will deliver the version that can become a common platform of the two countries. While meeting the needs of Spain, it will later become a member of NATO." "There will be platforms that will be put at the service of countries and other friendly countries."
Exports exceeded 7.4 billion dollars
Stating that one of the most important factors behind the success of the defense industry in Türkiye is the "industrialization model" applied, Görgün stated that the period of direct purchases has come to the period of original designs and platform exports.
Sharing the current data on the size the industry has reached, Görgün said, "Thankfully, we proudly state that we continue with over 4 thousand companies, nearly 130 thousand employees and an average age of 34. According to the figures I received today, our exports this year are over 7.4 billion dollars. In other words, we have reached the export figure of the previous year as of today. The effect of seasonality in the defense industry is very evident, the last 2 months of the year are exported with figures much above the year average. Therefore, this year is above the previous year." "I evaluate that we will complete it with export figures." he said.
Deputy Minister Torres emphasizes "cooperation" with Türkiye in the defense industry
Felipe Javier Carrasco Torres, Deputy Minister of Industry of the Valencia Region of Spain, stated that he was very pleased to be together in Türkiye with companies, SMEs and industry representatives focusing on security and defense.
Stating that they will organize an event for the defense and security industry in Valencia in September next year, Torres said, "We will be very pleased to invite you to Spain to strengthen our commonalities and work together in order to be more efficient and more competitive." made his assessment.
Torres said, "We are leaders in Spain in many sectors such as automotive, ceramics, chemicals, plastics, biotechnology and also cosmetics. As the government, we work very closely to produce good policies that will increase the competitiveness of our companies and industry." he said.
Pointing to the "clustering" policies implemented in the region, Torres said that they have many clusters covering traditional sectors such as textiles, shoes and food, as well as new generation industries such as semiconductors, photonics, aviation, space and drones.
Emphasizing that they have leading companies that are compatible with the European Commission in fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, photonics and cyber security, Torres explained that they currently serve mainly civilian markets.
Stating that the share of national security and defense in the industry is low, Torres said that he believes that they can increase this by cooperating with Türkiye.
Referring to the infrastructure opportunities in the region, Torres emphasized that the best way to quickly gain competence in the security and defense industry is to act together with other countries and institutions.
Torres told Turkish industrialists, "From today on, I want to say that we are brothers in the industry, because if we are together, we will be much stronger." he said.
