ASELSAN-ASELSAN.NET Defense Industry Day held in Brunei Darussalam

The event brought together representatives from ASELSAN and ASELSAN.NET and relevant Bruneian institutions to explore ways to further strengthen cooperation between Türkiye and Brunei in the fields of defense industry, advanced technology and security, as well as to discuss new partnership opportunities. The program opened with remarks by Prof. Dr. Hamit Ersoy, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Brunei Darussalam. This was followed by a general presentation by Göknur Esra Hasbay on ASELSAN's areas of activity and technological capabilities. Representatives from Brunei's Ministry of Defense, the Centre for Science and Technology Research and Development (CSTRAD), the Directorate of Force Capability Development (DFCD), the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), the Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF), the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), and the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) attended the morning session of the event. Speaking at the opening of the event, Ambassador Prof. Dr. Hamit Ersoy emphasized that the Defense Industry Day should be viewed not merely as an event for showcasing products, systems and services, but as an opportunity to develop a new area of cooperation between Türkiye and Brunei encompassing defense technology, innovation and industrial development. Ambassador Ersoy stressed that cooperation in the defense industry should not be confined to a traditional buyer-seller relationship. He said the two countries should move beyond the question of 'What can Türkiye sell to Brunei?' and instead focus on 'What can Türkiye and Brunei build together?' Highlighting Brunei's political stability, strategic location and strong ties with ASEAN, Ambassador Ersoy said the country has the potential to become, over the long term, a regional technology and manufacturing hub serving broader markets across the Asia-Pacific. Ersoy noted that, in this way, Türkiye's technological expertise, engineering capabilities and industrial experience could complement Brunei's strategic location and human resources. He emphasized that such an approach could also contribute to the objectives of Wawasan (Vision) Brunei 2035, particularly in developing a skilled workforce, creating quality employment opportunities, promoting innovation and achieving sustainable economic diversification. Addressing the importance of defense technologies in civilian applications, Ambassador Ersoy noted that technologies developed in areas such as cybersecurity, secure communications, artificial intelligence, software, electronics, sensors, telecommunications, unmanned technologies and advanced manufacturing also offer significant potential for use in civilian sectors. Ambassador Ersoy said that the Türkiye-Brunei technology partnership could be advanced through a three-stage approach. In the short term, he proposed identifying products, systems and services that could address Brunei's existing needs; in the medium term, developing capabilities in training, maintenance, technology transfer, research and human resources; and in the long term, exploring opportunities for joint production, local manufacturing, and establishing Brunei as a regional technology and manufacturing hub for selected products. Building on the presentations and discussions held on September 15, the meetings included more detailed assessments of concrete areas of cooperation and potential joint initiatives that could be pursued in the future. Following the Defense Industry Day, engagements continued with a series of bilateral meetings on September 16, 2026. The ASELSAN and ASELSAN.NET delegation visited Brunei's E-Government National Centre, Cyber Security Brunei and the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) at their respective premises, holding separate meetings with representatives of each institution. Calling for the excellent relations between Türkiye and Brunei to be transformed into strong and sustainable technological and industrial cooperation, Ambassador Ersoy expressed his hope that these engagements would lead to concrete projects between ASELSAN, ASELSAN.NET and relevant institutions in Brunei Darussalam. In his remarks, Ersoy called for the two countries to 'be partners in technology, capability development and joint production in suitable areas.' He thanked Brunei's Ministry of Defense and all Bruneian institutions that participated in the event for their interest, cooperation and hospitality.