Turkey has high hopes for its future in the defense field, but brain drain is depriving its industry of qualified human capital. Of all people working in the sector, only 24% are qualified engineers.

Turkey’s defense industry firms have geared up for a major show of force for foreign buyers at the International Defense Industry Fair taking place April 30 to May 3 in Istanbul. About 900 local and foreign companies are exhibiting their wares. Turkish firms are seeking to sign export deals and promote cooperation with foreign companies, as Turkey’s domestic market is about to reach saturation. Turkey's defense industry has been growing since 2014, pushing companies to focus on exports to sustain their growth. In addition to its traditional customers the United States and Germany, Turkey is looking for new clients in a slew of markets: Poland, Qatar, Oman, Ukraine, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chad, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan.

According to the management of Turkey’s Defense Industries, a target of $3 billion in exports set for 2019 does not include the MILGEM (National Ship) warship project and ATAK attack helicopter platform of Pakistan, or the T129 ATAK helicopter gunships for the Philippines.

This will be an important year in terms of Turkey’s defense industry objectives. TCG Kinaliada, another MILGEM corvette (small warship), will be delivered to the Turkish navy while TCG Anadolu, Turkey’s first multipurpose landing helicopter dock ship, is expected to hit the waves late this year. Turkey’s first indigenously built new-generation submarine, Piri Reis, is also expected to be operational in late 2019.