UPDATE - Türkiye sees digital sovereignty as inseparable from national security, says President Erdogan

ADDS MORE STATEMENTS FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT ERDOGAN

By Gokhan Ergocun and Mucahithan Avcioglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye sees digital sovereignty in the defense sector as an inseparable part of its national security, the nation’s president said Tuesday, adding: "Türkiye now designs its own technology, produces its own software, and exports its products to the entire world."

Speaking at a ceremony for the Sancar, a new Turkish unmanned naval vehicle, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "The Sancar enhances our unmanned capabilities at sea, boosting our security, effectiveness, and surveillance capacity."

The Sancar was developed by Turkish defense firm Havelsan and shipyard Yonca for the needs of modern navies. It is the first unmanned naval vehicle Havelsan has developed using ADVENT ROTA (Network Supported Data Integrated Combat Management System) as the mission system.

He said Türkiye is one of the 10 countries in the world that develops and launches its own warships.

During the ceremony, Havelsan's new facilities were also opened.

Erdogan stressed that Havelsan's investments are a continuation of strategic moves that will enhance the comprehensive capacity and impact of the Turkish defense ecosystem.

When completed, Havelsan's complex will be Europe's largest production and integration facility for simulation technologies, he added.

Erdogan said a country cannot talk about a secure future if its software is not national, as full independence cannot be considered separately from technological independence.

He added that Türkiye now applies a detection, diagnosis, and attack model using its local and national technology.

- Breaking new records every year

Erdogan said Türkiye is breaking new records every year in defense and aerospace exports, and that last year, defense exports jumped 48% from the previous year, exceeding $10 billion.

Pointing out that this figure in 2002 was only $248 million, and that Türkiye is currently the number 11 country in the world in defense exports, he said: "By reaching our export target of $11 billion in 2028, we will enter the top 10 countries in the world in defense and aerospace exports."

As of the end of 2025, Türkiye’s project volume in the defense industry will exceed $100 billion, and the number of projects will surpass 1,400, he added.

Erdogan also touted the Turkish UCAV Bayraktar TB3's performance during NATO's recent military exercise in Germany, saying: "Our army, along with our Bayraktar TB3 (drone) and TCG Anadolu ship, wrote a veritable epic at the NATO exercise in Germany."