Decoding Türkiye’s quest for self-reliance in the defense industry

On August 27, 2025, Türkiye unveiled an integrated air defence system called "Steel Dome," which bolsters its military's defence capabilities "against low, medium and high-altitude threats through land-based and sea-based air defence platforms and sensors.” Notably, the system has been developed indigenously by Turkish defence electronics company Aselsan for $460 million. The system consists of 47 vehicles that would likely complement the S-400 air defence system that Türkiye procured from Russia in 2019.

The unveiling of the Steel Dome was accompanied by the announcement that Aselsan would be building a new defense manufacturing facility –the Ogulbey Technology Base–in Ankara for US$1.5 billion, which was dubbed the "single largest defence industry investment" in Türkiye's history. The facility is expected to become operational by mid-2026 and would serve as the key base for developing the Steel Dome system.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed the new defence system as ushering in a new era in Türkiye's military and defence capabilities during the inauguration. The development is notable given Ankara's challenges in its relations with its NATO partners, especially the US. Türkiye's procurement and partial deployment of the Russian S-400 air defence system had led to Ankara being ousted from the US-led F-35 stealth jet programme, causing ruptures in bilateral ties.

The announcement of Steel Dome is noticeable given Israel's Iron Dome defence system, which has a proven track record in detecting and neutralizing enemy projectiles over the years, including during the 12-day June 2025 Israel-Iran war. Türkiye in the past procured defence equipment from Israel, but has gradually moved towards reducing its external dependence. The bilateral relationship, already tense due to growing differences over regional issues, has nosedived since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.

Erdoğan, during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ogulbey base and unveiling of the Steel Dome, stated “No country that cannot develop its own radar and air defence system can look to its future with confidence in the face of current security challenges, especially in our region” underlining the Turkish quest for bolstering its defence capabilities in light of the fragile regional security situation.

The announcements come at a time when Türkiye has become a major global manufacturer and supplier of UAVs, particularly its Bayraktar TB2 drones. Turkish UAVs have reportedly proved to be a game-changer in many recent conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Türkiye has also been noted for its ship-building and frigate capabilities. In recent years, it has signed deals with many countries in the Middle East, Africa and South and Central Asia to supply its UAVs and naval ships, including with Pakistan and Bangladesh. According to SIPRI data for 2020-2024, Türkiye was the third-largest supplier of defence equipment to Pakistan, after China and the Netherlands.

The unveiling of the Steel Dome underscores Türkiye's growing quest for self-reliance in defence manufacturing and its aspiration to emerge as a leading supplier of defence and military equipment in the Middle East. Türkiye has consistently improved its global ranking as a defence supplier. Hence, from 14th during 2016-2019, it improved to 11th during the 2020-2024 period, according to SIPRI data.

Notably, Ankara has utilized its defence manufacturing capabilities not only to enhance its self-reliance but also as a means to diversify its economic and industrial base, and expand its influence in regional and global arenas. Between 2020 and 2024, Türkiye was the fourth-largest military supplier to countries in West Africa, after China, France, and Russia.

Moreover, the growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing has boosted Türkiye's regional ambitions in the Middle East. Hence, it has military intervened in many regional countries in recent years, including in Libya, Syria and Iraq, alarming many of its regional partners and competitors. In Libya, for instance, Türkiye has emerged as a significant external actor, alongside several other regional and global powers.

Similarly, in Syria, the HTS led by Ahmed al-Sharaa gained an upper hand over rival factions primarily due to the support and patronage provided by Ankara. This proved decisive in the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. Its intervention in northern Iraq against reported PKK bases, too, was incessant in recent years. Analysts underline that these might have been instrumental in the recent PKK's decision to disarm and disband, giving peace with the Kurds a fresh chance.

Despite the strides in the defence manufacturing sector, Türkiye continues to face serious economic and political challenges. The Turkish economy has suffered due to numerous domestic and international factors, with its growth rate fluctuating between highs and lows over the past decade and a half. For example, in 2021, Türkiye's GDP growth rate, according to the World Bank, was 11.4 percent, a significant improvement from 1.9 percent in 2020. However, since then, it has consistently dropped to 3.2 percent in 2024.

Politically too, the situation is far from ideal, especially as many CHP and Kurdish leaders, including the now dismissed Mayor of Ankara, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been under arrest since March 2025 on charges of corruption, money-laundering, extortion, and aiding the outlawed PKK. İmamoğlu was touted as the likely opposition candidate for the next presidential election and has been reportedly targeted by Erdoğan due to his growing popularity. According to media reports, since the beginning of 2025, over 1,900 opposition members have been arrested and put behind bars for protesting against the government.

The Turkish quest for self-reliance in defence manufacturing and its emergence as a major military supplier have been boosted in recent years. This has been achieved through an ambitious foreign policy that has enabled Turkey to gain influence in the neighbourhood and the Global South, and has helped enhance its status as a global defence supplier. However, domestic economic and political instability remains a major hurdle in Ankara's realizing its ambitions and is likely to persist as a challenge under the prevailing circumstances.

The author is an Associate Professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies, JNU, New Delhi.