Turkey to Showcase Drones and Air-Defense Systems at NATO Summit

Turkey will host a NATO summit this week that includes a defense industry forum and a Turkish arms exhibition at the ATO Congresium convention center in Ankara. The summit agenda focuses on member pledges to increase military spending. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has described the forum as the largest industrial event in NATO's history, with allies expected to announce tens of billions of dollars in defense deals.

Turkey plans to present several domestically produced weapons. These include the Steel Dome air-defense network, Baykar drones, the KAAN fighter jet, and systems built by state firm ASELSAN. Indonesia has agreed to purchase 48 KAAN jets. Turkish defense and aerospace exports reached $10.9 billion in the year to May, a 47 percent increase from the prior year, with $6.2 billion going to NATO allies.

American weapons intercepted most incoming projectiles, but supply concerns prompted interest in additional suppliers. Mostafa Ahmed of the Al Habtoor Research Centre said Turkey can offer systems that meet NATO standards and have been used in combat. He noted demand for equipment such as HISAR missiles and Korkut anti-aircraft guns that can be delivered faster than some U.S. alternatives.

Turkish authorities have deployed 56,288 security personnel and closed airspace over the capital for the duration of the meetings. The measures include a 13-day ban on protests and drone flights within a designated security zone.