President Erdogan Sets Goal for Türkiye to Join World’s Top 10 Defense Exporters by 2028

President Erdogan announces an $11 billion defense export goal for 2028 as Türkiye opens new Roketsan facilities to boost its air defense production.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 11:48 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from AA (Anadolu Agency)

Strategic Expansion of National Missile and Air Defense Production

Türkiye has officially launched new production facilities for Roketsan in Ankara, a move designed to drastically accelerate the manufacturing of high-tech air defense and missile systems. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Tuesday that the nation’s primary industrial objective is to increase the speed and effectiveness of defense production. By establishing this new infrastructure, Türkiye intends to satisfy its own military requirements while simultaneously positioning itself as a dominant supplier in the international arms market, specifically targeting a spot among the world’s top 10 defense exporters.

Financial Targets for the 2028 Defense Export Milestone

The Turkish government has set an ambitious export target of $11 billion for the defense and aerospace sectors to be reached by 2028. This objective follows a period of rapid growth; the industry concluded 2025 with a record-breaking $10.54 billion in exports, representing a 48% increase over the previous year. According to President Erdogan, reaching the $11 billion threshold would solidify Türkiye’s position as a tier-one global exporter, moving it up from its current standing as the world’s 11th largest supplier of major arms.

Integration of the Steel Dome Air Defense Architecture

A key focus of the new Roketsan infrastructure is the support of the "Steel Dome" project, Türkiye’s indigenous layered air defense system. Erdogan noted that the new facilities will allow for a higher production tempo of the striking components that make up this architecture. The Steel Dome integrates domestically developed radar, electronic warfare, and command systems to protect national airspace from threats at multiple altitudes. This project is a cornerstone of Türkiye’s broader strategy to achieve full military self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on foreign-made defense platforms.