Turkish defense exports by kilogram rise as sector value climbs

ANKARA

Türkiye’s defense exports figures and export value per kilogram continued to rise this year, driven by high-value production across the defense and aerospace sector, according to the Defense Industries Presidency (SSB).

The sector’s exports have surpassed $7 billion in recent years, while the export value per kilogram reached $65 in 2024, far above the national average of $1.5 per kilogram for general Turkish exports. SSB data shows that, for some platforms and subsystems in the sector, export value per kilogram can range from $20,000 to $50,000.

SYS Group, one of Türkiye’s leading manufacturers of light- and medium-caliber weapons systems, is among the firms contributing to the sector’s growing value through advanced production and integrated solutions.

SYS Group General Manager Cahit Utku Aral told Anadolu that the company’s work has helped lift the sector’s average export value per kilogram to $125, and that the next milestone is reaching the $250 range.

Aral said the company initially produced pistols but restrictions on long-barreled weapons prevented the private sector from manufacturing hunting rifles or pistols until 2017.

“Pistol production is still high value added nowadays but SYS Group decided to transition to products with even higher added value in 2012 — we made significant strides to target upper segment pistol production and entered the field shooting business, designing the weapons of the future and moved our products’ position in the market to the A segment,” he said.

“We developed an in-house accessory program, key in light firearms, and this allowed us to create a very deep and secure accessory portfolio for our users — for instance, our firm is one of the first manufacturers to combine a pistol with a reflex sight, and now we sell over 70,000 optic sights alongside firearms,” he added.

Aral said SYS Group began investing in medium-caliber weapons due to limited investment in small-arms manufacturing globally and intense competition.

“We acquired the rights to represent American and British firearm makers, and we integrated their products into land, sea, and air platforms via mechanical and electromechanical solutions,” he said. “This enabled us a head start in acquiring the capabilities we would need in the future, while allowing us to get to know the market and maintain communications with clients by providing integrated logistical support.”

Following the lifting of restrictions in 2017, the company began developing its 12.7-millimeter heavy machine gun, completing development in 2022. That same year, SYS Group acquired UK-based AEI Systems, adding 20-, 25- and 30-millimeter weapons to its portfolio.

Aral said Unirobotics, a defense firm operating within SYS Group and specializing in remote-controlled firing control systems, has taken the company to a new point, helping drive a projected increase in the sector’s export value per kilogram from $125 to over $250.

“SYS Group has become one of the only three firms to produce 30x113-millimeter weapons and one of the only two companies that can produce in-house remote-controlled firing control systems for this weapon,” he said. “Our systems operate with the most sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) powered software on offshore patrol vessels, manned and unmanned land and sea platforms, and rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.”

He added that SYS Group will continue focusing on high-end small-arms production, further investments in the medium-caliber segment, and expanding mechatronic integration capabilities.