Türkiye secures $2.95 billion defence aviation export order

Türkiye’s defence and aviation industry has secured an export order worth $2.95 billion, driven by aircraft engine programs developed by the country’s leading engine manufacturer, according to a senior official.

Haluk Görgün, head of the Defence Industry Directorate under the Turkish Presidency, said the Turkish aviation sector closed 2025 with record performance and carried that momentum into 2026 with its first major export success of the year. He said the deal was achieved through Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii A.Ş. (TEI), Türkiye’s main aircraft engine producer, Caliber.Az reports per Anadolu. 

Görgün stated that the size of the order demonstrated Türkiye’s growing position among the world’s leading centers for the production of high value-added aircraft engines.

He explained that the contracts cover the manufacture of components as well as maintenance and repair services for 22 different engine programs that are widely used in both civil and military aviation globally. Deliveries under the agreement are scheduled to begin in 2026.

He added that, with this latest deal, TEI’s total order backlog has risen to $8.2 billion, which he described as tangible evidence of the company’s engineering capabilities, manufacturing standards, and reliability in the global aircraft engine market.

Görgün also emphasised that Türkiye’s progress in defence and aviation has been shaped by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s approach of treating the two sectors as a single, integrated ecosystem. 

He said long-term policies, strong government support mechanisms, and a strategic focus on exports have enabled the industry to develop globally competitive technologies and achieve sustainable growth.

By Sabina Mammadli