The French newspaper Le Figaro, highlighting Türkiye's rise in the defense industry, reported, "In 2024, Türkiye exported to 185 countries. It produces 80% of its own weapons. With drones, missiles, and fighter jets, Türkiye is becoming a global player in the military field."
In the article titled "Drones, Missiles, Fighter Jets: Türkiye on the Path to Military Power," Le Figaro reviewed significant advances Türkiye's defense industry has made in recent years.
The report noted that thousands of people in Istanbul came to see the Turkish Navy's ships, including the country's largest military vessel, the TCG Anadolu, as part of the TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan event. It emphasized Türkiye's aim to assert broad sovereignty in the Mediterranean and a dominant role in the Black Sea through its "Blue Homeland" doctrine.
The article highlighted the display of military technology such as the Bayraktar TB3 armed drone and the unmanned fighter jet Bayraktar KIZILELMA at TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan. Istanbul Shipyard Commander Rear Admiral Recep Erdinç Yetkin explained at the festival that TCG Anadolu serves as a "power projection tool" thanks to its amphibious capabilities and onboard drones, and that its onboard hospital can support humanitarian operations.
Le Figaro described TEKNOFEST, organized several times a year by Baykar, as combining a military demonstration with a technology competition, where young engineer teams showcase their innovations and compete for scholarships.
Türkiye's domestically developed ALTAY tank and Çelik Kubbe (Iron Dome) systems were also noted for making headlines in neighboring countries, being seen as symbols of a new era in military technology.
The article recalled Baykar's partnership with the Italian defense company Leonardo to jointly develop and produce drones. It mentioned that Baykar delivered six TB2 drones to the Croatian army in early August, and supplies drones to Poland, Qatar, Kuwait, and several Sahel countries. According to Selçuk Bayraktar, Baykar exports to a total of 42 countries.
Le Figaro pointed out that Selçuk Bayraktar has come to represent Türkiye's technological dynamism, describing him as "a star who attracts more attention, like a national hero."
The article also cited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, noting that construction has begun on the "National Aircraft Carrier," a larger ship than TCG Anadolu, which is planned to be delivered to the Turkish Navy by 2030.
It emphasized the expanding customer base of Türkiye's defense industry, noting that Türkiye, which rarely opens its defense sector to outsiders, now wants to showcase its successes to the world and potential commercial partners.
Le Figaro had recently reported that with the new National Aircraft Carrier project, Türkiye would surpass the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to become the Mediterranean country building the largest warship.
The article stated that the Turkish government considers the defense industry a key driver of the national economy and a powerful export sector. It highlighted that in 2024, Türkiye exported defense materials worth $7.1 billion to 185 countries.
This marked a 29% increase from the previous year and indicated Türkiye's reduced dependency on foreign suppliers in the sector. The report quoted, "Türkiye now produces 80% of its weapons domestically."
