Agreements span Europe, Canada and Gulf partners, extending Ankara’s industrial footprint
Turkey has expanded the international reach of its defense industry through a series of agreements focused on the joint development and production of military systems with partners in Europe, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Asia.
In recent days, Ankara signed seven agreements and contracts with companies from Europe, Canada and Asia covering the co-development of defense technologies. Among the most notable were agreements involving the development of unmanned underwater systems with Canada, cooperation on artificial intelligence with the United Arab Emirates and drone manufacturing projects with Italy.
The agreements were highlighted during the recent SAHA international defense exhibition in Istanbul, where Turkish companies sought to deepen their presence in European markets and across the European Union.
One of the most widely publicized agreements was signed between Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar and France’s Safran. The deal will integrate French-made Euroflir electro-optical systems into Bayraktar TB-2 unmanned aerial vehicles. The cooperation also includes navigation and tracking systems as well as smart munitions. According to sources, Athens has protested the development to Paris.
Turkey also strengthened ties with Italy’s defense sector. Baykar signed an agreement with Italy’s Gruppo Esse for a robotic, automated mass-production line for unmanned aerial vehicles. Baykar has already acquired several Italian aerospace and defense companies.
Another significant agreement was signed between ARCA Savunma and Estonia’s Ministry of Defense to establish a long-range ammunition production plant in Estonia. The facility is expected to cost about €300 million.
Elsewhere, Turkish arms manufacturer Sarsilmaz and Spain’s EM&E Group signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation in research technologies.
Outside Europe, Turkish shipyard Sefine and Canada’s Kraken Robotics agreed to jointly develop autonomous underwater systems. Baykar also reached an agreement with the UAE’s Edge to integrate the Emirati-made Al Tariq munition into the Turkish Akinci combat drone and signed a memorandum to expand cooperation on precision weapons and autonomous systems. Turkey is also pursuing opportunities in Latin America. At the FIDAE 2026 aerospace exhibition in Chile, Turkish companies showcased defense technologies as part of a broader effort to expand regional market access.