# Türkiye Expands Defence Export Partnerships

Türkiye is structuring defence exports as longer-term industrial and security relationships that bundle equipment sales with training, maintenance, technology transfer and local production. The cited examples include two Bayraktar Akinci drone contracts in July 2023 followed by localization arrangements, a Saudi Arabia armoured-vehicle manufacturing agreement dated 25 July 2025, and Pakistan’s MILGEM programme, launched in 2018 to build four warships with two constructed in Türkiye and two at Karachi Shipyard. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Ukraine are identified as relevant markets, although the signal gives no specific Ukrainian contract. Reliance on foreign-controlled components and export licences creates delivery risks, while buyer localization can reduce reliance on foreign suppliers over time.

- Turkish defence contractors and prospective suppliers should assess opportunities in local manufacturing, systems integration, maintenance, training and technology transfer alongside equipment sales.
- The Saudi examples include drone localization and domestic manufacture of next-generation eight-wheeled armoured vehicles; the Pakistan programme includes shipbuilding and technology transfer. These arrangements make local industrial participation and production capacity central to positioning.
- Companies should evaluate export-licence dependencies and foreign-controlled components when estimating delivery schedules and supply-chain risk. Buyers’ localization efforts may also change long-term demand for imported components and services.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 30, 2026

### Government Entities
- Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB)
- Ministry of National Defence of Türkiye
- Saudi Ministry of Defence
- Pakistan Ministry of Defence
- Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

### Vendors
- Baykar (Contractor for combat drones and localization arrangements)
- Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) (Saudi industrial participant in localization and land-systems manufacturing)
- FNSS Defense Systems (Contractor for armoured-vehicle manufacturing)
- ASFAT (Contractor for Pakistan’s MILGEM warship programme)
- STM Defense Technologies Engineering (Contractor for naval design, systems integration and shipbuilding cooperation)

### Sources
- [Arms and influence: Türkiye’s defence exports open doors abroad](https://www.noonpost.com/en/387113) - نون بوست