SAHA Istanbul to Establish Drone Production and Training Centers Across Turkey
Istanbul, April 26 – Haluk Bayraktar, Chairman of SAHA Istanbul, the largest defence, aerospace, and space industry cluster in Turkey and Europe, announced that the revenues generated from the upcoming SAHA 2026 International Defence, Aerospace and Space Industry Fair will be allocated to establish drone production and training centers in all 81 provinces of Turkey. This initiative aims to significantly boost the nation’s drone manufacturing capabilities.
“We will achieve the capacity to produce millions of drones across the country at any given moment,” Bayraktar stated during a press briefing in Istanbul, attended by SAHA Istanbul Board Members, defence industry representatives, and members of the press.
SAHA 2026: A Hub for Defence Industry Innovation and Collaboration
The SAHA 2026 fair, marking its fifth edition, is set to take place from May 5-9 at the Istanbul Expo Center. This year’s event is expected to be the largest to date, spanning a total area of 400,000 square meters, including 20,000 square meters of outdoor exhibition space.
Bayraktar highlighted the remarkable growth of SAHA Istanbul, which began with 27 members and now boasts over 1,300 members, making it Europe’s largest industrial cluster. He noted that the SAHA fair, which started in 2018 with 170 participating companies and no foreign presence, will host over 1,700 companies this year, with more than 260 being international firms.
“The first SAHA fair saw 10,000 visitors. This year, we expect a 20-fold increase, with over 200,000 visitors,” Bayraktar added, underscoring the growing international interest in the Turkish defence industry.
Ambitious Export Targets and Strategic Partnerships
Building on the success of the 2024 SAHA fair, which secured $6.2 billion in export contracts, SAHA 2026 aims to achieve an even more ambitious target of at least $8 billion in export agreements. This goal reflects the organization’s commitment to expanding Turkey’s global footprint in the defence sector.
Bayraktar emphasized SAHA Istanbul’s core mission to broaden the defence industry ecosystem. “In the early 2000s, there were 17 defence companies in Turkey. Today, the number of SAHA Istanbul members exceeds 1,300, and the total number of defence industry-related companies is over 3,000,” he explained, highlighting the significant growth and the importance of including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this ecosystem.
Nationwide Drone Initiative: Empowering Youth and Local Production
The decision to establish drone production and training centers in all 81 provinces is a key initiative. The largest of these centers will be located in Istanbul, serving as a public hub where young people can receive training, engage in production, test drones, and integrate into the broader ecosystem.
“We will use the revenues from this year’s SAHA fair to establish these drone production and training centers,” Bayraktar confirmed. This strategic investment is expected to create a robust national infrastructure for drone technology, enabling widespread production and fostering a new generation of skilled professionals.
Global Recognition and Collaboration Opportunities
Bayraktar also noted the international appreciation for Turkish companies acquiring long-standing aircraft manufacturers, seeing it as a testament to Turkey’s growing influence. “The sympathy from those countries, and their cooperation with your ecosystem, opens doors in unexpected dimensions. This is an indicator of Turkey’s power in every field,” he remarked.
Murat İkinci, Vice Chairman of SAHA Istanbul and General Manager of ROKETSAN, highlighted Turkey’s extensive defence industry ecosystem, which spans thousands of companies. “This ecosystem does not exist in Europe. The Turkish defence industry currently represents the most vibrant supply chain. Therefore, we can consider Europe as an area of potential cooperation rather than just competition,” İkinci stated.
Ahmet Akyol, Vice Chairman of SAHA Istanbul and General Manager of ASELSAN, announced that ASELSAN will introduce three new products at SAHA 2026, including new offensive capabilities for the ‘Blue Homeland,’ enhanced features for the ‘Iron Dome,’ and new air assault products.
Ilhami Keleş, Vice Chairman of SAHA Istanbul and General Manager of Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE), emphasized the importance of sustainability and focusing on products that are simpler, faster to produce, and highly effective in the field.
Mahmut Faruk Akşit, SAHA Istanbul Board Member and General Manager of TUSAŞ Engine Industries Inc. (TEI), spoke about the ongoing technological race and the need to constantly innovate, particularly in engine development, to enhance altitude capabilities.
Mehmet Demiroğlu, SAHA Istanbul Board Member and General Manager of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), confirmed that many TUSAŞ products will be exhibited at SAHA 2026. “Our work on KAAN continues. We aim to fly two prototypes within this year,” he announced.
Ali Baran, SAHA Istanbul Board Member and General Manager of Yongatek Microelectronics, mentioned that their MCU components, used in many defence industry products, are ready for production. He added that the design phase for an AI chip is 70% complete, with prototype production slated for the first quarter of next year.
Hakan Altınay, SAHA Istanbul Board Member and Chairman of Altınay Technology Group, emphasized that SAHA Istanbul’s growth mirrors the development of the Turkish defence industry. “The most valuable aspect for Turkey is that we now possess significant infrastructure, both in academia and in our defence industry companies, knowing what to do and how to do it,” Altınay said.
Özgür Rodoplu, SAHA Istanbul Board Member and Board Member of Arca Defence, stated that Arca Defence’s export efforts are ongoing, and they will sign an agreement with the Estonian Ministry of Defence at SAHA 2026.
Mehmet Karaaslan, SAHA Istanbul Board Member and General Manager of BMC Defence, stressed the continued importance of ground forces despite evolving aerial warfare. “We will continue to contribute to the defence industry ecosystem through our investments, collaborations, and suppliers. At SAHA 2026, there will also be an opportunity to see a production model of the ALTAY Tank,” Karaaslan added.
SAHA 2026: Key Figures and Highlights
Levent Kerim Uça, General Secretary of SAHA Istanbul, provided further details about the fair:
- Exhibition Area: 400,000 sqm total, with 20,000 sqm open-air.
- Participation: Over 1,700 companies (263 international), 200,000+ visitors, 30,000+ industry professionals from over 120 countries.
- B2B Meetings: Over 30,000 planned meetings, transforming the event into a platform for business development, supply chain matching, and strategic partnerships.
- New Products: 203 new product launches.
- Signing Ceremonies: 164 ceremonies, including $4 billion in export-focused agreements, tripling the previous fair’s export-oriented deals.
Participation from Europe, the USA, and Canada is prominent, with numerous companies, official delegations, trade delegations, and visitors from four continents attending SAHA 2026. The fair will feature cutting-edge autonomous vehicles, including unmanned ground vehicles and planetary rovers, showcasing their capabilities on specially prepared tracks.
Naval platforms, including the world’s first UCAV ship TCG Anadolu and other Turkish Naval Forces vessels, will be open to official delegations and the public on May 8-9 at Ataköy Marina and Sarayburnu Port. Indigenous unmanned marine vehicles will also be exhibited at Ataköy Marina.
International Delegations and Strategic Discussions
SAHA 2026 will host over 140 official delegations, more than 800 official delegation members, and over 200 representatives from commercial procurement delegations. The participation of more than 25 foreign ministers and numerous high-ranking military officials will further enhance the event’s international visibility and strategic impact.
The program includes 17 international panels, 4 “Space Talks” sessions, and keynote speeches covering the future of defence technologies, security architecture, industrial transformation, and new cooperation models. High-level visits from heads of state, ministers, chiefs of general staff, and force commanders are expected, with one-on-one meetings planned to foster international collaborations.
Investment Ecosystem and Space Technologies
A significant theme of SAHA 2026 is the investment ecosystem, featuring international investment funds, financial institutions, strategic investors, as well as the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) and companies within the NATO DIANA Program. The event aims to support SMEs in accessing global markets, financing, and integrating into international collaborations.
The second key thematic focus is the space ecosystem. A dedicated Space Pavilion and a specially designed Space Dome area will showcase space technologies, while “Space Talks” sessions will delve into the sector’s future, cooperation opportunities, and Turkey’s space vision.
Furthermore, panels, meetings, and presentations will be held regarding the 77th International Astronautical Congress, scheduled for October 5-9 in Antalya, co-hosted by the Turkish Space Agency and SAHA Istanbul, to raise international awareness and explore collaboration opportunities for this event.
