5 Turkish defense contractors make world’s top 100 list

Five Turkish defense giants made Defense News’ Top 100 list this year, reflecting the industry’s expanding global footprint and rising export revenues.

Aselsan, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Arca Defense, Roketsan and MKE all secured places on the ranking, while executives from the five companies also serve on the board of SAHA Istanbul, Europe’s largest industrial cluster.

Turkish defense companies have been climbing global rankings in recent years, driven in part by surging exports. The five companies generated a combined $14.9 billion in defense revenue, with exports accounting for a significant share.

Aselsan ranked 40th on this year’s list, followed by TAI at 48th and Arca Defense at 53rd. Roketsan placed 64th, while MKE entered the ranking at 81st.

The SAHA Expo has become an important showcase for Türkiye’s defense industry on the global stage and has contributed to the sector’s export-driven growth.

The platform helped facilitate export contracts worth around $4.5 billion in 2024 and $8 billion in 2026, supporting the international expansion of Türkiye’s major defense companies.

The participation of these large defense contractors in SAHA Istanbul’s management and committees also enables closer integration with more than 1,300 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the cluster.

The production capacity of these SMEs provides larger defense companies with more flexible supply chains, helps shorten delivery times and strengthens the global competitiveness of Türkiye’s defense industry.