Europe's defense industry sees Turkey as a significant player in its ongoing militarization wave
Turkey Strengthens Defense Ties with Europe
Turkey has been making significant strides in its defense partnerships and exports within Europe, enhancing its profile within NATO and the European defense ecosystem.
In a notable development, Havelsan, a key Turkish defense player, won a Romanian tender to modernize maritime surveillance using its MATRA software platform. This move underscores Turkey's growing influence in Europe's defense sector.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised Turkey's defense industry during a summit, acknowledging its impressive defense industrial base. Rutte emphasized the need for the Turkish defense industrial base to be as closely connected as possible to the U.K., Norway, and the European Union.
One of the key defense partnerships in Europe involves Baykar Technologies, Turkey's leading drone maker. Baykar partnered with Italy’s Leonardo to co-develop next-generation unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), combining Turkish AI-driven technology with European aerospace expertise. Baykar also acquired the historic Italian manufacturer Piaggio Aerospace, marking a major step into European aviation manufacturing.
Turkey's defense exports to Europe have surged in recent years. In 2023, they reached $1.2 billion, up from $369 million in 2020, and now account for 22% of the country's total defense exports.
Other significant partnerships include Turkish company Repkon partnering with a German defense contractor to produce 155mm artillery shells for the German army. Additionally, STM, a Turkish naval engineering firm, signed an agreement with Portugal in 2024 to build two auxiliary replenishment and logistics vessels for the Portuguese Navy.
Turkey has also been supplying Bayraktar TB2 drones to several European countries, including Poland, Albania, and Croatia, with the latter also receiving logistics and command systems.
Spain has signed a €1.375 billion deal with Turkey to jointly develop the Hürjet advanced trainer aircraft. Spain has also contributed design elements to Turkey’s amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. Spain and Italy have surpassed Germany and the US as Turkey’s top defense suppliers.
Italy collaborated with Baykar via Leonardo on UAV production to strengthen both markets, alongside Italy’s broader strategic engagement with Turkey for energy, migration, and African security roles.
In a significant move, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) secured an agreement in Spain to co-produce and export Hürjet, Turkey's first indigenously developed jet trainer and light attack aircraft.
The EU activated its new 150 billion euros defense fund in late May 2023, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested that Turkey, as an EU candidate country, could participate in joint projects.
NATO leaders pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 at the June 2023 summit in The Hague. This commitment is expected to further boost Turkey's defense industry and its role within NATO.
These extensive partnerships and exports have integrated Turkey strategically into European defense production and supply chains, particularly in UAVs, aerospace, artillery, and naval platforms. They have also enhanced interoperability and shared technology development, making Turkey a key player in building Europe’s future defense systems.
Turkey's rising profile in NATO and Europe has been further reinforced by its role as a supplier and partner in rearming and modernizing European militaries amid the geopolitical challenges posed by Russia and other factors. This increased leverage in NATO defense planning allows Turkey to simultaneously navigate alliances with the U.S. and Europe and broaden its defense market reach.
In summary, Turkey’s growing exports and strategic partnerships across multiple European countries have established it as an indispensable defense partner, deepening its integration into Europe's defense ecosystem and reinforcing its critical role in NATO’s evolving security architecture.
[1] DefenceNews [2] Reuters [3] SIPRI [4] BBC News [5] Anadolu Agency
- The European defense sector witnessed a significant expansion with Turkey's influence, as seen in the modernization of Romania's maritime surveillance system using Havelsan's MATRA software platform.
- In a push towards technology advancement, Baykar Technologies, Turkey's leading drone maker, teamed up with Italy’s Leonardo to co-develop next-generation unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), combining Turkish AI-driven technology with European aerospace expertise.
- As Turkey's defense exports to Europe expand, businesses such as Repkon partnering with German defense contractors and STM's agreement with Portugal for naval vessels construction reflect an increasingly integrated Turkish presence in European defense production and supply chains.
