Türkiye's defence industry expands global reach with new UAV exports PHOTO

Türkiye’s defence sector is diversifying its exports by introducing new uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and seeing the rise of more companies in the field, further strengthening its international presence.

One of the standout companies in this expansion is BMS Defence Technologies, which was highlighted in a recent report detailing the firm’s achievements and deliveries over the past year, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

BMS Defence secured third place in Türkiye’s UAV export rankings for 2024, following leading defence giants Baykar and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

The company’s success in the export market is largely driven by its innovative UAVs, including the Aybars-2, a fixed-wing, gasoline-powered UAV that boasts a flight time of 7-8 hours and a range of 100 kilometres (62 miles).

In addition to the Aybars-2, BMS Defence has developed the Orhun and Göktuğ electric UAVs, which can operate for up to three hours within a 50-kilometer radius.

The company also offers the Boran-2, an assault drone capable of carrying up to four 81mm mortar rounds and deploying them up to 8 kilometres away.

BMS Defence’s Deputy General Manager, Cihangir Çilingir, shared that the company is leveraging growing global demand for UAVs to boost its exports. "Last year, we delivered UAVs to four countries, including two in Africa and two in Asia. We also signed a kamikaze drone sales contract with a country in the Asia-Pacific region and expanded our market reach to 10 countries," Çilingir told Anadolu Agency.

Çilingir emphasized that BMS Defence has made significant advancements in its UAV software, developing it in-house, and increasing the use of domestically produced components, now accounting for over 60% of the UAVs’ total parts.

Export sales make up 80% of the company’s revenue, he added. "Our differentiating factor in the market lies in offering customizable, customer-specific solutions. This allows us to cater to the unique needs of our clients, further diversifying our export markets."

BMS Defence Chairman, Bilal Işık, noted that the company plans to increase its exports in 2025, targeting 15 countries. "We’re currently in discussions with two African nations for new export deals, and we’re also working on increasing our production capacity. By the second quarter, we plan to move to a new factory that will combine our headquarters and production facilities," he stated.

By Tamilla Hasanova