Istanbul: Trkiye has gained significant momentum in its defense industry, but the main goal is to be independent in every field and to have sufficient capacity, the head of Turkish defense firm Baykar said Tuesday. Speaking at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul, Haluk Bayraktar emphasized Baykar's control of 60% of the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market. He highlighted Trkiye's journey from 80% foreign dependence to 80% localization.

According to Anadolu Agency, the 17th edition of the six-day defense fair IDEF, which opened Tuesday, is being held simultaneously at the Istanbul Fair Center, Ataturk Airport, Wow Hotel, and Atakoy Marina. The event, organized by KFA Fairs with support from Trkiye's Defense Industries Secretariat (SSB) and the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, features Anadolu as its global communication partner.

Developments in the defense industry are an expression of the spirit of the Turkish nation, which has never allowed its freedom to be shackled, Bayraktar stated. He added that this reflects the political vision of the bureaucracy and the will of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to support the entire defense industry ecosystem.

Turning to Turkish defense products, Bayraktar mentioned that Turkish defense giant Aselsan is one of Baykar's most significant partners. He noted that Baykar tested the ASELFLIR-600 electro-optical reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting system developed by Aselsan on Baykar's Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), emphasizing its superiority over foreign counterparts.