Azerbaijan and Turkey sign $500 million in defense deals

During the 6th Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2026) in Baku, Turkey and Azerbaijan signed a series of defense industry agreements exceeding 500 million dollars. The deals focus on procurement, joint production, and technological cooperation to strengthen the defense capabilities of both nations.

Key procurement agreements include the delivery of 14 Hürkuş-II training aircraft from TUSAŞ, the supply of Alp-100 radar systems from ASELSAN, and various munitions and defense systems from BAYKAR and ROKETSAN. Notably, ASELSAN, ASELSAN BAKÜ LLC, and NOVASIS LLC have signed a preliminary agreement to establish a strategic production facility in Nakhchivan. This facility aims to facilitate technology transfer and local manufacturing of products such as laser guidance kits, precision-guided munitions, and air defense systems.

Beyond hardware, the cooperation extends to academic and research sectors. Memorandums of understanding were signed between the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK) and the defense ministries of both countries to foster R&D and engineer training. The agreements represent a shift toward a sustainable model of localized production and reduced external dependency for the region.