Turkey expands defense industry via budget increases and naval air defense

Turkey is advancing its domestic defense and aerospace capabilities through significant budgetary increases and the integration of advanced air defense systems into its naval fleet. Under the new Medium Term Program (OVP), military and defense spending has seen a record increase of approximately 226%, signaling a strategic shift toward reducing foreign dependency and fostering high-value local technology production.

In the maritime sector, the ‘Steel Dome’ project is being integrated into the Turkish Navy to provide multi-layered air defense in the ‘Blue Homeland’ waters. Key components of this system include the GÖKDENİZ system, which uses multi-particulate ammunition to create a defensive barrier against missiles and UAVs, and the TOLGA system, designed to counter low-altitude asymmetric threats like kamikaze drones using electronic jamming and laser technology. Other systems such as GÖKSUR and LEVENT are also being utilized to address the rising threat of unmanned aerial vehicles.

On a regional industrial level, business leaders in Afyonkarahisar are calling for increased coordination to integrate local manufacturing into the national defense supply chain. There is a push to establish professional structures that act as a bridge between local investors and major defense industry players to capitalize on the growing demand for aerospace and defense equipment.