The Turkish defense industry continues to find wide coverage in global military and strategic publications. According to the analyzes in the US-based Defense Blog and Naval News, one of the respected publications of the maritime field, Turkey attracted attention both with its large-scale ammunition production investments in Europe and with the high-tech military capacity it exhibited in NATO exercises. In the analysis, it was emphasized that Türkiye’s rise in the field of defense created a new balance element not only on a regional but also on a global scale.
352 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT
According to Defense Blog’s analysis Turkish defense company ARCA Defense is preparing to establish a large ammunition production facility worth approximately 300 million euros in Estonia’s Pohja-Kivioli defense industrial zone. The facility, which will be built on an area of 141 hectares within the scope of the project called “ARCA Baltic”, is planned to start production in 2028. It is stated that the facility in question will produce 155 mm M107 artillery shells used in NATO standards, 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm mortar ammunition, and 122 mm rockets with a range of 20 kilometers. According to the analysis, these munitions are among the basic elements of modern land warfare. It is emphasized that the facility is designed to gather production, storage and logistics infrastructure in a single center.
HISTORICAL FIRST IN NATO EXERCISE
In the analysis published in Naval News, the performance of the Turkish Naval Forces in NATO’s Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise was highlighted. Türkiye was one of the countries that made the biggest contribution to the exercise hosted by Germany and attended by approximately 10 thousand soldiers from 11 countries. was stated. According to the analysis, the Turkish navy proved its strategic mobility by operating at a distance of approximately 8 thousand kilometers to the Baltic Sea. The most striking development of the exercise was the Bayraktar TB3 armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) taking off from the TCG Anadolu ship and hitting the targets. In the shooting, TB3 accurately hit the target with Roketsan-produced MAM-L ammunition. Naval News stated that this operation was recorded as the first incident in NATO history where an unmanned aerial vehicle taking off from a warship hit the target.
NATIONAL SHIPS ON STAGE
In the analysis article The “Anatolia Task Group” taking part in the exercise represents Türkiye’s maritime modernization. was expressed. While it was stated that the 27 thousand-ton TCG Anadolu served as the command center, it was stated that the ship stood out with its GENESIS-ADVENT combat management system, armored vehicle carrying capacity and amphibious operation capability. It was stated that the TCG Istanbul frigate was produced with an 80 percent local production rate and was equipped with completely domestic systems such as the CENK-S AESA radar, Atmaca anti-ship missile and MiDLAS vertical launch system. On the modernized TCG Oruçreis frigate, ASELSAN-produced FERSAH sonar, AKREP fire control radar and GÖKDENİZ close air defense system were used. It was emphasized that TCG Derya, which provides logistics support, increased the mobility of the task group with its high speed capacity. The amphibious marine infantry battalion, ZAHA armored vehicles, SAT-SAS teams and helicopter elements also participated in the exercise.
Türkiye’S GLOBAL ROLE
In the Naval News analysis, it was reminded that Türkiye assumed the duties of Amphibious Task Force Command (CATF) and Landing Force Command (CLF) for the first time within NATO. Maritime expert Dr. Lee Willett also stated in his assessment that the unmanned systems developed by Türkiye constitute a “new doctrine” for NATO. he stated. According to Willett, platforms like the TB3 increase NATO’s advantage of “mass and flexibility” on the battlefield.
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