Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walks behind soldiers before laying a wreath at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, in Ankara, Nov. 10, 2018, on the 80th anniversary of his death. (Credit: Adem Altan/AFP)
From hypersonic missiles to drones, Turkey took advantage of the 2025 edition of the IDEF arms fair, held in Istanbul from July 22 to 27, to showcase its latest military innovations, including the Typhoon, the first ballistic missile it has produced. With more than 900 Turkish companies and 400 foreign exhibitors from 103 countries, the defense fair confirmed Turkey's status as a major player in the sector. From a mere arms importer to a rising power in the military industry, the country has undergone a profound strategic transformation in the past 20 years. In 2024, with a defense budget of $25 billion — a 12% increase over the previous year — the country ranked 17th in the world for military spending, while in a decade its arms exports rose from $1.9 billion to $7.15 billion, attracting buyers in Europe, the Middle East and beyond....
From hypersonic missiles to drones, Turkey took advantage of the 2025 edition of the IDEF arms fair, held in Istanbul from July 22 to 27, to showcase its latest military innovations, including the Typhoon, the first ballistic missile it has produced. With more than 900 Turkish companies and 400 foreign exhibitors from 103 countries, the defense fair confirmed Turkey's status as a major player in the sector. From a mere arms importer to a rising power in the military industry, the country has undergone a profound strategic transformation in the past 20 years. In 2024, with a defense budget of $25 billion — a 12% increase over the previous year — the country ranked 17th in the world for military spending, while in a decade its arms exports rose from $1.9 billion to $7.15 billion, attracting buyers in Europe, the Middle East and...
