Photo Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün ©

Monde Économique: Secretariat of Defence Industries was founded with an ambitious national mission. In a constantly shifting geopolitical landscape, how has this initial vision evolved over the decades to align with the global dynamics of the defense industry today?

Pro. Dr.Hauluk Görgün: Since the very beginning of its establishment in 1985, the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB) was entrusted with a mission rooted in national sovereignty and strategic autonomy.

Over the fourdecades, as the geopolitical environment has continuously transformed, our vision has matured and adapted while remaining faithful to its original essence and mission: to ensure that Türkiye can be autonomus and self-reliant in the matters of defence and security.

In recent years, the global defence industry has been shaped by shifting alliances, new threats that transcend borders and the needs of rapid technological progress and ability to produce state-of-the art products,

Türkiyehas responded to these new changes by strengthening its indigenous capabilities, expanding the capacities, diversifying its partnerships, and investing heavily in R&D.

Thanks to her vision and adaptibility, Türkiye, now, isas a proactive and reliable ally and contributor to regional and global security.

Today, we are focused not only on producing cutting-edge systems for meeting our own defence needs and requirements , but also on sharing our capabilities with our allies and friendly countries in the world, always guided by the principles of cooperation, sustainability, and mutual benefit.

Monde Économique: The drone, missile, and rocket sectors are undergoing a technological revolution, notably through the integration of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and advanced materials. In your view, which innovations will redefine tomorrow’s standards?

Pro. Dr.Hauluk Görgün: We are indeed witnessing a profound transformation in the defence industry sector. Tomorrow’s standards will be defined by a convergence of several key innovations.

Artificial intelligence will enhance decision-making, targeting precision, and operational efficiency.

Autonomous systems will expand the range and resilience of platforms, ensuring that complex missions can be carried out with speed and reduced risk to human life.

Advanced materials, meanwhile, will allow us to create lighter, stronger, and more survivable systems that can perform effectively in diverse operational environments.

But beyond these technological pillars, integration will be the decisive factor.

The future belongs to systems that are interconnected—air, land, sea, cyber, and space assets working seamlessly together through secure networks and data-driven architectures.

It is this holistic, multi-domain approach, enabled by AI, autonomy, and advanced materials, that will redefine the standards of tomorrow.

Monde Économique: Faced with increasingly structured international competition, how does Türkiye position itself to maintain competitiveness while strengthening its presence in strategic markets?

Pro. Dr.Hauluk Görgün: Competition in the global defence industry sector is intense, and it is natural that established players have strong positions. Türkiye, however, has adopted a distinctive approach.

Our competitiveness does not rely solely on size or scale, but rather on agility, adaptability, and the ability to deliver innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of our partners. We position ourselves by focusing on our flexibility to adapt together with building strategic partnerships

Turkish defence companies are able to design and produce systems that respond rapidly to operational requirements, while offering affordability and reliability.

At the same time, we emphasize long-term cooperation—technology transfer, co-production, and industrial partnerships—rather than one-sided supplier-client relationships.

We combine competitiveness with a spirit of cooperation, which ensures that our partners see Türkiye as a trusted partner contributing to our shared security goals

Monde Économique: Which market segments are currently the most promising for Turkish Defence Industry companies?

Pro. Dr.Hauluk Görgün: Our defense industry is diverse, and many segments hold promise.

Unmanned and automous systems remain one of the fastest-growing areas, with Türkiye recognized globally for its pioneering work in this field.

Air defense systems, artillery systems, precision-guided munitions, electronic warfare capabilities, and command-and-control solutions are also sectors where Turkish companies are making strong contributions.

In addition, naval platforms, armored vehicles, are drawing significant interest in international markets.

Beyond platforms, we see promising opportunities in software-driven solutions, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies such as quantum tecchnologies and space-based defense assets.

The common denominator is that Türkiye is producing  not only traditional platforms but also investing in the enabling technologies that will define the defence industry of the future.

This balanced approach ensures both immediate relevance and long-term competitiveness.

Monde Économique: Finally, what are your long-term perspectives for Turkish Defence Industry in the years ahead?

Pro. Dr.Hauluk Görgün: Our long-term perspective is guided by the principle of full independence in defence technologies and by a vision of Türkiye as a leading global contributor to peace, security, and innovation.

We foresee an industry that is deeply integrated into the global technological cooperation, yet firmly anchored in national sovereignty.

In the coming years, we will continue to invest in our research and development, strengthen our industrial base, and nurture our human capital.

We aim to further increase and deepen our cooperation with our strategic partners, and play an active role in shaping global defence standards.

Ultimately, our perspective is not only about producing advanced systems, but also about building an ecosystem—one that supports national security, drives economic growth, and fosters international cooperation.

Turkish Defence Industry is not just preparing for the next decade; but also laying the foundations for Türkiye’s role in the global security architecture of the twenty-first century.