Türkiye’s cutting-edge defence technologies steal the show in Abu Dhabi PHOTO

Abu Dhabi will host an exhibition where 98 Turkish defence companies will showcase the strength and technological prowess of Türkiye’s national defence industry.

The event, to be held from February 17 to 21 in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, reflects the growing global presence of Turkish defence technology, driven by its innovative capabilities and technological edge, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

Under the leadership of the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB) and with the support of the Defence and Aerospace Industry Exporters’ Association, Türkiye is firmly establishing itself as one of the world's largest defence manufacturers, featuring both major industry giants and small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Among the prominent Turkish companies participating in this year’s exhibition are ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, ROKETSAN, TUSAŞ, FNSS, BMC, MKE, OTOKAR, CANIK, STM, ASFAT, and numerous cutting-edge SMEs. The exhibition will highlight the latest advancements in maritime, land, air, and electronic systems, presenting Türkiye’s most innovative and advanced defence technologies.

A standout at this year’s event is the 35mm KORKUT air defence system, developed by ASELSAN. Integrated into the UAE-based Calidus Wahash 8x8 armoured fighting vehicle, the KORKUT system has garnered significant attention. It is already in active service with the Turkish Armed Forces and is known for its exceptional performance against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles, low-flying aircraft, and helicopters. This state-of-the-art system is expected to be a key feature at IDEX 2025 and is poised to make a significant impact in the international defence market, particularly within the Middle East region.

Before Walash, KORKUT’s first integration on an 8x8 platform was on Otokar’s ARMA 8x8 armoured fighting vehicle, displayed in the IDEF’23 exhibition.

KORKUT is actively used with the Turkish Armed Forces onboard FNSS’s ACV-30 tracked armoured vehicle. In the ongoing counter-terrorism operations, KORKUT has been successfully used to counter UAV threats and against ground targets. The threat coverage also includes helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and cruise missiles.

KORKUT can fire various munitions armed with two 35 mm revolver cannons with a combined fire rate of 1100 RPM, including the standard 35 mm ammunition and ATOM 35 airburst ammunition.

The Turkish defence industry continues to gain recognition for its technological advancements and growing role in global security, making this exhibition a key milestone in its international expansion.

By Vafa Guliyeva