Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır delivered a comprehensive speech on his ministry's 2026 budget to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). In his speech, Kacır presented concrete data on the progress made towards the "National Technology Initiative" vision, making critical statements in many areas ranging from the defense industry and space exploration to artificial intelligence and the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Summarizing the distance Türkiye has covered on its journey towards technological independence, Minister Kacır emphasized the strength of domestic production by defying embargoes. Here are the highlights and details from Minister Kacır's statements.
Defense Industry and Localization
Türkiye's advancements in the defense industry were one of the most important agenda items during the budget discussions. Minister Kacır drew attention to the enormous capacity established in this field and the critical projects undertaken.
Giant Ecosystem
It was stated that the defense industry is no longer solely the result of the efforts of a few institutions, but rather a large, widespread ecosystem. Minister Kacır announced that the number of companies operating in the sector has reached 3,500. It was also stated that the number of qualified personnel employed in these firms has reached 100,000. This massive workforce is working day and night to meet Türkiye's defense needs and increase its export potential.
Local Content Rate
Referring to how external dependence has been reduced over the years, Kacır emphasized that the domestic production rate in the defense industry has increased from around 20 percent to over 80 percent. This increase directly strengthens Türkiye's ability to act without being affected by external pressures when making strategic decisions.
Important Projects
Minister Kacır shared the following details about the projects, designed by Turkish engineers, that have made a name for themselves worldwide:
- Red Apple: Kızılelma, Türkiye's first unmanned combat aircraft, is opening a new chapter in our aviation history. The progress of the project is taking Turkish dominance in unmanned aerial vehicles to the next level.
- Gokdogan Missile: One of the most striking moments of the speech concerned the Gökdoğan missile. It was announced that a target aircraft had been successfully shot down with the Gökdoğan, a beyond-visual-range missile developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE. Minister Kacır made history by stating that Turkey was the first country in the world to achieve this success.
- Gokhan Missile: It was stated that work is continuing at full speed on the Gökhan project, a long-range missile with ramjet engines that will reinforce air superiority.
- KAAN: It was emphasized that our national fighter jet, KAAN, is not just a platform, but also a system in which domestically produced ammunition is integrated. The integration of domestically produced air-to-air and cruise missiles into KAAN is successfully continuing.
- Steel Dome: The details of the "Steel Dome" project, a layered air defense system designed to protect Türkiye's airspace, were discussed. This shield, created through the integrated operation of the Korkut, Hisar, and Siper air defense systems, secures the skies of the homeland.
- Wind Tunnel: It was announced that a high-speed wind tunnel, which will strengthen the testing infrastructure of the defense industry, is being built within TÜBİTAK SAGE. This infrastructure will accelerate the testing processes of aircraft and ammunition.
Space and Satellite Technologies
Türkiye's position in the "Space League" was extensively covered in Minister Kacır's speech. Increasing competence in satellite technologies and international collaborations formed the main theme of this section.
Satellites
Türkiye's presence in space is being strengthened with domestically produced satellites. It was recalled that the first national communications satellite, Türksat 6A, was successfully put into service. It was stated that this success was not enough, and work had begun on Türksat 7A. Furthermore, it was noted that the observation satellite projects İMECE 2 and İMECE 3 would increase Türkiye's space-based imaging capabilities and strengthen its hand in areas such as intelligence gathering and agricultural monitoring.
Export Success
Turkey has risen from being just a user to a supplier in satellite technologies. It was highlighted that the high-resolution electro-optical camera developed for the national observation satellite İMECE has been exported abroad. This export demonstrates Türkiye's competitiveness in the global market for high-tech products.
Moon Mission
Türkiye's lunar exploration program continues unabated. It has been reported that the most critical subsystems to be used on the lunar rover, such as the hybrid propulsion system, flight computer, and solar panels, are being produced entirely with domestic resources. This development demonstrates the acquisition of the necessary technological expertise for deep space missions.
International Space Congress
Turkey is preparing to host the world's most prestigious organization in the field of space. Minister Kacır announced that the International Space Congress, the world's largest space event, will be held in Antalya between October 5-9. This event will ensure that the heart of the global space industry beats in Türkiye.
Science, R&D and Technology Support
Minister Kacır emphasized the importance of support provided for the sustainability of scientific production and technological development. Funding provided through various channels, primarily TÜBİTAK, is increasing Türkiye's R&D capacity.
TÜBİTAK Grants
The balance sheet of TÜBİTAK's support, which provides vital support to the science and technology ecosystem, has been announced. It was stated that a total of 14.5 billion TL has been provided to 10,370 projects from 190 universities and 3,100 companies to date. This support plays a key role in transforming academic knowledge into commercial products.
Chip Design
In chip technology, whose importance has increased even more due to crises in the global supply chain, steps are being taken towards localization. It has been stated that the design of chips used especially in the automotive and white goods sectors is being localized. This move ensures the production security of strategic sectors.
Science Centers
The number of science centers, established to increase the interest of young people and children in science, is growing. It was stated that with the opening of 5 new centers in the last year, the total number has reached 40. It was emphasized that these centers have brought 18 million visitors together with science to date, thus laying the groundwork for the development of future scientists.
Entrepreneurship
The support provided under the BİGG (Individual Young Entrepreneur) program, which aims to support technology-based entrepreneurship, has been announced. It was stated that 3.5 billion TL has been allocated to technology startups to date. This support helps bring innovative ideas into the economy.
Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization
The efforts to adapt to the requirements of the digital age and to have a say in artificial intelligence technologies were on Minister Kacır's agenda.
Supercomputer ARF
The capacity of the "ARF" supercomputer, established within TÜBİTAK to increase data processing capabilities, has been strengthened. It was stated that the ARF's computational capacity has been tripled with these investments. This increase in power will allow for faster training of complex simulations and artificial intelligence models.
Turkish Artificial Intelligence
The importance of cultural and linguistic independence in the field of artificial intelligence was emphasized. It was announced that Turkish large language models (LLMs) are being developed and their sectoral applications are being expanded. This will enable the creation of artificial intelligence solutions trained with Turkish data, tailored to Turkish culture and language structure.
Satellite Constellations
The focus is on near-orbit satellites for next-generation communication and imaging needs. It was stated that uninterrupted data communication and high-resolution imaging services are being developed using near-orbit satellite constellations. These projects will support digitalization infrastructure from space.
Events
The speech concluded with a piece of good news that millions of technology enthusiasts had been eagerly awaiting.
TEKNOFEST 2026
The next stop for TEKNOFEST, the world's largest aviation, space, and technology festival, has been announced. Minister Kacır declared that TEKNOFEST 2026 will be held in Şanlıurfa, the "City of Prophets." This decision was met with great applause as part of the vision to spread the winds of technology to every corner of Anatolia.
Keywords: Ministry of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacır, 2026 Budget, Gökdoğan missile, TEKNOFEST 2026 Şanlıurfa, Kızılelma, KAAN, Türksat 6A, Steel Dome, İMECE, national technology initiative
