Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS), one of France’s leading strategic think tanks, ranked Türkiye as one of the continent’s fastest rising defense exporters in its analysis examining the transformation in the European defense market. According to the report, Türkiye, which has increased its defense exports approximately fivefold in the last five years, is turning into a permanent player in Europe thanks to its price, delivery time, NATO compatibility and industrial cooperation.
FRS: TURKEY FEATURES
According to FRS’s analysis titled “European Rearmament and New Defense Exporters” The rearmament of European countries, which accelerated after the Russia-Ukraine war, created new opportunities for non-European producers such as South Korea, Türkiye and Brazil. While it was stated in the report that Türkiye increased its defense exports approximately fivefold in the 2020-2025 period, it was emphasized that Europe has become the largest export market of the Turkish defense industry. According to the analysis, Türkiye is no longer just a manufacturer offering cost-effective systems, but is now rising to the position of a strategic actor establishing long-term industrial partnerships in Europe.
TURKISH SYSTEMS ARE SPREADING IN EUROPE
According to the report, Turkish defense companies, especially Baykar, ASELSAN, TAI, STM, Otokar, Nurol Makina and ASFAT, have signed important contracts in many European countries in recent years. While Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs were preferred by Poland, Romania and Croatia, as well as Ukraine, Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Otokar’s Cobra II and Nurol Makina’s Ejder Yalçın and NMS armored combat vehicles also entered the military inventory in Romania, Estonia and Hungary. The report also cited ASELSAN’s electronic warfare system export to Poland, STM’s Portuguese logistics ship project, ASFAT’s Romanian corvette delivery and TAI’s entry into the Spanish market with the HÜRJET training aircraft as important examples of Türkiye’s rise in Europe.
NATO COMPATIBILITY THE SECRET TO SUCCESS
According to FRS analysis, the basis of the success of Turkish defense products in Europe is not only competitive cost. Full compliance with NATO standards, short delivery times, battlefield-proven performance and an industrial model open to technology transfer. It also plays a decisive role in choosing the Turkish defense industry. In the analysis article, it is evaluated that the experience gained by Bayraktar TB2 in the battlefield accelerated orders in Europe, and HÜRJET can open new export doors thanks to its joint production model with Spain. It is stated that the joint venture established between Leonardo and Baykar heralds a new era in the European unmanned aerial vehicle market.
COMPETITION WITH SOUTH KOREA AND BRAZIL
In analysis In addition to Türkiye, attention is also drawn to the rise of South Korea and Brazil in the European defense market. While it was stated that South Korea has established a production network, especially based in Poland, with the K9 howitzer, K2 main battle tank and Chunmoo multi-barreled rocket launcher systems, it was reported that Brazilian Embraer’s C-390 Millennium transport aircraft was preferred by eight European Union countries. The analysis reveals that Europe is now increasingly turning not only to its own defense companies, but also to systems developed in third countries, and that this trend will become even stronger in the coming years.
(email protected)
