ANKARA — Turkey and Japan have agreed to deepen defense industry cooperation in a first formal initiative between the two countries that could eventually lead to joint drone production.
What happened: The two countries’ official defense industry bodies, Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, signed a letter of intent on Wednesday, SSB President Haluk Gorgun said.
The document was signed during the first-ever Turkey-Japan Defense Industry Cooperation Day held on the sidelines of SAHA 2026, one of Turkey’s largest arms fairs, which is being held in Istanbul through Saturday and is hosting delegations from more than 120 countries.
“Important steps were taken toward developing strategic cooperation between the two countries in the defense industry and high-technology fields,” Gorgun said in a post on X following the event.
Thirty Turkish companies, including Turkey’s leading drone producer Baykar as well as 10 Japanese defense firms, attended the event, according to the Japanese Embassy in Ankara.
Masami Tamura, Japan’s ambassador to Ankara, described the event as “an important step” for bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries.
While officials did not disclose specific projects, both sides signaled interest in expanding cooperation into advanced defense technologies. The defense industry cooperation talks launched between the two countries could eventually include joint development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles. Tokyo is particularly interested in Baykar’s TB2 combat performance in conflicts such as Ukraine, Japanese news outlets reported on Thursday.
Turkish drones have gained international visibility over the past decade due to their lower costs and battlefield use in conflicts including in Libya and Ukraine.
Why it matters: For Turkey, Japan represents a major potential market as Ankara seeks to expand defense exports globally.
Turkey became the world’s 11th-largest arms exporter in the 2021-2025 period after exports surged 122% compared to the previous five years, according to data released in March by arms watchdog Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Japan has been seeking to expand drone capabilities amid growing security concerns over China and regional tensions.
The country’s 2026 defense budget earmarked roughly $70 million to procure its first five “wide-area” UAVs, long-endurance drones intended to replace some reconnaissance and attack functions of the country’s retiring helicopter fleet.
Know more: Turkish defense companies have increasingly pursued joint production and technology-transfer agreements as Ankara seeks to expand defense exports and deepen long-term industrial partnerships abroad.
In 2023, Turkish drone maker Baykar signed localization and co-production agreements as part of a record drone export deal involving Bayraktar Akinci UAVs. The agreement included local manufacturing and technology transfer with Saudi defense firms.
In Europe, Baykar and Italian defense giant Leonardo signed an agreement in 2025 to establish a joint venture to co-produce unmanned aerial vehicles for the European market, with production sites planned in both Italy and Turkey.