Turkish state defense firm MKE destroys drone at 760 meters with 20-kilowatt fiber laser weapon
Turkish state defense company MKE destroyed a drone at 760 meters during a live-fire demonstration of a new 20-kilowatt fiber laser weapon developed for its TOLGA close-in air defense system. The test took place at the Ateş Serbest-2026 event near Ankara.
Turkey proposes 229% rise in defense procurement spending for 2027, pending parliamentary approval
Turkey's draft 2027 budget calls for $44.5 billion in defense spending and a separate $25.2 billion for internal security, according to Breaking Defense. The defense procurement line would rise 229% year-on-year under the proposal, which requires parliamentary approval. Turkey's defense industry has expanded rapidly, with firms like Baykar and Turkish Aerospace exporting drones and opening new production lines.
Why it matters: Ankara is budgeting like a country at war — and building the industrial base to sustain it, which puts pressure on European export markets from Africa to the Gulf.
Turkish Aerospace opens second production line for upgraded Anka 3 stealth combat drone
Turkish Aerospace Industries established a dedicated production line for an upgraded variant of the Anka 3 unmanned combat air vehicle. A company official told Breaking Defense the first aircraft from the new line will roll out "soon" and enter flight testing afterward. The line expansion follows operational experience with the initial Anka 3 batch.
Turkey orders Roketsan CAKIR ground-launched cruise missiles for Land Forces
Turkey has signed a supply contract with Roketsan for land-based CAKIR cruise missile systems for the Turkish Land Forces, Haluk Görgün, head of the country's Presidency of Defense Industries, announced on October 15. Görgün said the contract is intended to strengthen the army's long-range strike capability. No contract value or delivery timeline was disclosed.
Turkey's MKE delivers three more E-ZPT electric armored personnel carriers to Land Forces
Turkey's state-owned defense company MKE has delivered three more E-ZPT electric armored personnel carriers to the Turkish Land Forces Command. The E-ZPT is a rebuilt M113 that runs on battery power instead of a diesel engine alone. MKE announced the handover on October 15, adding to a small fleet of electric APCs already in service.