Turkey leverages AI to strengthen its defense sector
Turkey's Defense Sector Embraces Artificial Intelligence
Turkey's defense industry is making significant strides in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its systems, as demonstrated by several leading companies showcasing their AI-driven innovations at IDEF 2025.
Focus and Achievements
Havelsan, a pioneer in Turkey's defense AI landscape, presented a range of AI-powered solutions at IDEF 2025. These include multi-domain command and control architectures, AI-assisted decision support systems, manned-unmanned teaming, and hybrid operational frameworks. One of Havelsan's notable products, the ADVENT Combat Management System, is integrated with the indigenous AI assistant called MAIN, featuring real-time voice command recognition—an innovation that enhances operational efficiency.
Aselsan is leading the development of the "Steel Dome" air defense concept, an indigenous system crucial to Turkey’s multi-layered air defense architecture. This system uses AI to coordinate radars, sensors, weapons, rockets, and missiles to deliver rapid and effective threat responses, marking a significant leap in autonomous air defense capabilities.
Roketsan, known for its missile and rocket technology, unveiled advanced missile systems, including the AKATA, a submarine-launched capsule version of the ATMACA anti-ship missile. This development positions Turkey among a select group of nations with underwater guided-missile capabilities.
Future Plans
The roadmap emphasizes expanding AI integration across multidomain operations, combining real-time data processing for enhanced situational awareness in naval and land systems, and advancing simulation and training platforms, including advanced VR systems for land, sea, and air applications.
Turkish defense firms also plan to continue refining autonomous and hybrid human-machine operations, deepening AI’s role in decision support and command architectures, and further strengthening AI-powered maritime, border security, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Building an AI Ecosystem
To sustain momentum, Turkey has established the "AI for Defense" national strategy, supported by the Presidency of Defense Industries' talent program, SAYZEK. This program aims to build a skilled AI ecosystem by integrating civilian innovation with defense needs, accelerating commercialization, and establishing shared infrastructure and laboratories.
Investments in Digital Sovereignty and Green Codex
In addition to these advancements, Türk Telekom is expanding its investments to strengthen digital sovereignty, while Doğuş Teknoloji offers GreenCodex, an innovative solution that makes software energy consumption visible and offers developers concrete suggestions to reduce carbon emissions.
Collaboration and Incubation
IDEF 2025 served as a platform for strategic partnerships and collaboration among Turkey's leading defense companies. Notable agreements include Roketsan's expanded cooperation in artillery technologies with Azerbaijan and its supply and production agreements with PT Republik Defense Indonesia (RDI) for the Çakır cruise missile. A new institutional partnership agreement was also signed between Roketsan and Teknopark Istanbul to boost incubation programs for early-stage defense and technology startups.
Looking Ahead
As Turkey's defense sector continues to evolve, the integration of AI marks a turning point towards digital and AI-enabled systems. With strategic partnerships, innovative solutions, and a focus on AI talent development, Turkey is poised to become a global player in AI-driven defense technologies.
- The really impressive AI-driven innovations demonstrated by Havelsan at IDEF 2025 include the ADVENT Combat Management System, which is integrated with the indigenous AI assistant called MAIN, capable of real-time voice command recognition.
- Aselsan's "Steel Dome" air defense concept, a crucial part of Turkey’s multi-layered air defense architecture, uses AI to coordinate radars, sensors, weapons, rockets, and missiles, marking a significant advancement in autonomous air defense capabilities.
- The future plans of Turkish defense companies involve expanding AI integration across multidomain operations, advancing simulation and training platforms with VR systems, and increasing AI-powered maritime, border security, and electronic warfare capabilities.
- Turkey has established the "AI for Defense" national strategy, supported by the Presidency of Defense Industries' talent program, SAYZEK, to build a skilled AI ecosystem by integrating civilian innovation with defense needs, accelerating commercialization, and establishing shared infrastructure and laboratories.
