by Tugay Er
As we stepped into 2025, let’s take a moment to rewind and look at Turkiye’s incredible defense achievements in 2024. From groundbreaking innovations to historic milestones, here’s a thread showcasing the key developments in Türkiye’s defense industry.
•The 5th generation stealth fighter KAAN successfully completed its maiden flight.
•KAAN’s pilots began testing the TULGAR helmet (similar to the F35 Helmet), also designed for F-16s.
•The TF6000 engine,, KIZILELMA, and ANKA-3, was fired up for the first time.
•Mass production of the MURAD 100-A AESA radar started.
•ANKA-3 UCAS performed its maiden flight.
•ANKA-3 UCAS successfully completed its first live-fire test.
•Aksungur UAV entered the inventory with the domestically developed PD170 engine.
•TB3 UAV became the first unmanned aerial vehicle to take off and land from a short-deck ship.
•Bayraktar KIZILELMA PT-3 UCAS completed its maiden flight.
•KIZILELMA achieved serial production readiness.
•HÜRJET completed its 100th test flight.
•The second HÜRJET prototype successfully took to the skies.
•Turkiye and Spain signed a MoU to sell HÜRJET aircraft to the Spanish Air Force.
•Bayraktar TB2 surpassed 1 million flight hours, setting a new record.
•Türkiye achieved 65% of global UAV sales.
•Defense industry exports increased by 18.4%, reaching $6.48 billion.
•MKE defense firm increased its annual exports by 947%, breaking a record.
•3 Turkish companies, including ASELSAN, TAI/TUSAS, and BAYKAR entered the Defense Top 100 list in 2024.
•The ALTAY tank entered serial production.
•TUNA-powered VURAN 4×4 and KİRPİ MRAP vehicles were delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces.
•The GÜRZ air defense system, part of the “Steel Dome,” was unveiled.
•HİSAR-O completed its first long-range firing test.
•GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN air-to-air missiles entered inventory.
•Turkiye completed its layered air defense system from low to high altitude.
•TCG Derya, TCG İstanbul, TCG Arif Ekmekci, and Marlin USV were commissioned into service.
•MARLIN USV was delivered to the Turkish Navy with the identifier “TCB 1101.”
•Türkiye’s first armed unmanned surface vessel, ULAQ, entered the inventory.
•TCG Piri Reis, Turkiye’s new submarine, was delivered to the Turkish Navy.
•Production of MUGEM, the new aircraft carrier, and TF2000, the advanced destroyer, officially began. •Turkiye‘s domestic developed MIDLAS VLS completed its first test firing after a short period development.
•BAYKAR acquired Piaggio Aerospace, a 140-year-old aviation company.
•$6.2 billion worth of contracts were signed at SAHA EXPO 2024.
