Strategic Participation and Record-Breaking Representation
Türkiye’s largest industrial cluster, SAHA Istanbul, made a powerful impact at the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), representing 218 member companies from across the defence, aerospace, and space sectors.
The event, hosted under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defence of Türkiye, with the support of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and organised under the management of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, once again brought together leading domestic and international stakeholders shaping the future of global defence and aerospace.
New Partnerships and Strategic Agreements
During IDEF 2025, SAHA Istanbul signed landmark cooperation protocols aimed at strengthening its members’ position in the global defence and aerospace ecosystem.
One of the most significant milestones was the signing of a Letter of Intent for the Executive MBA Program in Business Administration between SAHA Istanbul, TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE, and Middle East Technical University (METU), under the auspices of Türkiye’s Minister of Industry and Technology, Mr. Mehmet Fatih Kacır.
This collaboration will reinforce the SAHA MBA Program, combining TÜBİTAK’s sectoral expertise, METU’s academic excellence, and the assurance of a master’s degree to cultivate future leaders of the National Competence Initiative, fostering synergy between public institutions, industry, and academia.
Additionally, a “National Competence Initiative Stakeholder Cooperation Protocol” was signed between the Defence Industry Academy (SSB) and SAHA Academy, furthering the sector’s vision for sustainable growth, deeper capabilities, and enhanced global competitiveness.
International Engagement and B2B Collaborations
IDEF 2025 also served as a platform for SAHA Istanbul to strengthen its international outreach. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea visited the SAHA Istanbul pavilion to explore ongoing initiatives and receive a detailed briefing on the upcoming SAHA 2026 International Defence, Aerospace, and Space Industry Exhibition. This exchange led to exclusive B2B meetings between Korean companies and SAHA Istanbul members to explore bilateral opportunities.
In addition, SAHA Istanbul visited the pavilion of the Ukrainian National Defence Industry Cluster (NAUDI), holding constructive discussions to deepen cooperation between Türkiye and Ukraine, enhance inter-company networking, and expand joint technology development opportunities. Ukrainian participation in SAHA 2026 is expected to further reinforce this partnership.
Throughout the fair, SAHA Istanbul facilitated one-to-one meetings between its member companies and international firms, showcasing Türkiye’s cutting-edge defence and aerospace capabilities and paving the way for new global partnerships and export opportunities.
IDEF 2025 – A Global Platform for Innovation and Growth
This year, IDEF 2025 hosted 1,491 exhibitors from 103 countries, welcoming 231 official delegations and over 120,000 visitors. The exhibition saw the debut of 26 new defence products and the first public display of more than 1,100 systems and solutions. A total of 270 agreements were signed, amounting to a record-breaking USD 9 billion in contracts, with 65% focused on exports.
With 218 member companies, SAHA Istanbul played a pivotal role in showcasing Türkiye’s technological strength and industrial depth on this world-class stage.
In an official statement, SAHA Istanbul declared:
“At SAHA Istanbul, we are committed to ensuring that our members are not only leading players in the national market but also influential participants in the global defence and aerospace ecosystem. The protocols we signed, the B2B engagements we facilitated, and the international collaborations we advanced during IDEF 2025 are concrete reflections of this mission.
We will continue to work tirelessly to further elevate Türkiye’s rapidly rising defence, aerospace, and space industries.
Looking ahead, we aim to bring the global defence and aerospace community together in Türkiye at the SAHA 2026 International Defence, Aerospace, and Space Industry Exhibition, to be held from 5–9 May 2026 at the Istanbul Expo Center—because in a world where technology dictates the future, Türkiye must remain among the nations shaping it.”
