Justice and Development Party (AKP) decision-makers, obsessed of late with the idea of the “New Turkey,” have decided that to be a powerful state Turkey has to rely on a “national government-strong army-strong national defense industry” formula.

In the AKP’s aspiration to become a powerful regional and global force, the defense industry has emerged as an important political instrument.

Fikri Turkel, a writer for the pro-government daily Yeni Safak, writes about Turkey’s place in the $1.5 trillion annual global defense market, which is expected to reach $2.5 trillion in the next 10 years. Turkish decision-makers constantly say that by 2023, Turkey must get at least $25 billion from this lucrative market. 

In 2008, Turkey’s defense industry exports were $600 million. At the end of 2012, exports doubled to $1.2 billion. In 2013, the number of companies working in Turkey's defense sector was more than 500, while exports neared $1.5 billion. The target for 2014 defense exports is estimated at $1.8 billion. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his inaugural speech to the parliament spoke about the Turkish defense industry. He said, "Turkey can now manufacture its own tanks, combat ships, attack helicopters, UAVs, communication satellites, its national infantry rifle, rocket launchers and much other defensive equipment."