Turkiye’s Roketsan Targets Top 10 Global Exporter Status Amid Regional Conflicts
Amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East and shifting dynamics in modern warfare, Turkiye has rapidly expanded its defense industry to become a leading global missile exporter. Central to this growth is Roketsan, the country’s primary manufacturer of missile and rocket systems, which aims to break into the top ten global defense exporters. This expansion was largely driven by Western embargoes, including US CAATSA sanctions and exclusion from the F-35 program following Turkiye’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 system. To circumvent these restrictions, Ankara developed an integrated domestic defense ecosystem involving nearly 4,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, achieving a local production rate exceeding 90 percent. In 2025, Turkiye’s defense exports reached $10 billion, with Roketsan currently ranked 71st globally but growing rapidly. The company now exports to approximately 50 countries, capitalizing on the surging global demand for drone, missile, and air defense technologies sparked by recent wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and tensions involving Iran. This strategic shift has not only secured Turkiye’s military autonomy but also positioned it as a major supplier in the international arms market.
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Turkiye’s Roketsan Targets Top 10 Global Exporter Status Amid Regional Conflicts
Amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East and shifting dynamics in modern warfare, Turkiye has rapidly expanded its defense industry to become a leading global missile exporter. Central to this growth is Roketsan, the country’s primary manufacturer of missile and rocket systems, which aims to break into the top ten global defense exporters. This expansion was largely driven by Western embargoes, including US CAATSA sanctions and exclusion from the F-35 program following Turkiye’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 system. To circumvent these restrictions, Ankara developed an integrated domestic defense ecosystem involving nearly 4,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, achieving a local production rate exceeding 90 percent. In 2025, Turkiye’s defense exports reached $10 billion, with Roketsan currently ranked 71st globally but growing rapidly. The company now exports to approximately 50 countries, capitalizing on the surging global demand for drone, missile, and air defense technologies sparked by recent wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and tensions involving Iran. This strategic shift has not only secured Turkiye’s military autonomy but also positioned it as a major supplier in the international arms market.
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