Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed that his country’s defense industries have become the foundation of its national security, in addition to their economic benefits. In a speech today, Tuesday, during the inauguration ceremony of the new naval vessel ‘Sancar’ in the capital, Ankara, Erdogan said: ‘Thanks to the ‘Sancar’ naval vessel, we are strengthening our capabilities at sea and consolidating our security, effectiveness, and surveillance capabilities.’
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Erdogan highlighted the significance of digital autonomy in the defense sector, viewing it as an integral part of national security. He emphasized that Turkey is now capable of designing its own technologies and software and is exporting them globally. The Turkish Armed Forces demonstrated their prowess with the Bayraktar drones and TCG Anadolu corvette during recent NATO exercises in Germany, marking a significant achievement.
The Turkish President extended his congratulations to the Presidency of Defense Industries, which coordinates the efforts of the defense sector and its 3,500 companies. He stressed that deterrence is not solely about the number of systems but also about the software, secure data flow, communication, and cyber resilience. Erdogan underscored the importance of domestically developed software for a secure future and technological independence.
Erdogan noted a 48 percent increase in defense exports last year, exceeding $10 billion, placing Turkey eleventh globally in defense industry exports. He announced that defense industry project volumes have surpassed $100 billion, with over 1,400 projects anticipated by the end of 2025. Turkey has initiated a national technology campaign in the software sector, ensuring that ‘Turkey’s data must remain within Turkey.’
The President also mentioned the adoption of software from trusted national institutions like Havelsan for data encryption, highlighting efforts to protect and enhance institutional infrastructures through a management system developed with national engineering.