SAHA EXPO Strengthens Its Position as One of the World’s Leading Defense Industry Exhibitions

SAHA EXPO stands as a key platform where leading manufacturers, suppliers, and aspiring contributors in the defense, security, maritime, and aerospace industries come together. This significant event not only highlights Türkiye’s domestic production potential but also plays a pivotal role in supporting the National Technology Move. In addition to being a venue for companies to display cutting-edge products in defense, security, maritime, and aerospace sectors, SAHA EXPO hosts national and international participants. The event features industry-focused panels, B2B (business-to-business) meetings that foster collaboration, and forums for exploring ideas to propel the sector’s development.

This year, the debut of the cybersecurity and artificial intelligence pavilions, alongside public participation days, further enhanced the event’s scope and significance. A total of 22,467 high-level B2B (business-to-business) meetings facilitated new partnerships and collaborations, while the signing of 133 contracts and agreements underscored the defense industry’s role as an economic force multiplier. Additionally, domestically produced warships and unmanned maritime vehicles were showcased at Sarayburnu and Ataköy ports, highlighting Türkiye’s advancements in maritime defense technologies. This exceptional exhibition not only demonstrated the country’s capabilities but also provided a unique experience for both domestic and international visitors.

The SAHA EXPO 2022 Exhibition, an international platform highlighting Türkiye’s growing domestic production potential and independent manufacturing capabilities, officially opened on October 22 with a ceremony featuring speeches from Minister of National Defence Yaşar GÜLER, Minister of Industry and Technology Fatih KACIR, SAHA Istanbul Chairman Haluk BAYRAKTAR, and President of the Defence Industry Agency Prof. Haluk GÖRGÜN. On October 23, the PKK terrorist attack on Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) facilities in Kahramankazan, Ankara, which tragically claimed the lives of five personnel and injured 22 others, was condemned in a memorial ceremony held at the TUSAŞ booth on October 24. During the ceremony, Minister of National Defence GÜLER, Minister of Industry and Technology KACIR, and SAHA Istanbul Chairman BAYRAKTAR delivered statements denouncing the attack and honoring the victims. On October 25, President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN toured the exhibition and delivered the closing address for SAHA EXPO 2024. Expressing profound sorrow over the TUSAŞ attack, he stated, “Although the pain of our losses is great, our determination to fight the traitors targeting our vision for the Century of Türkiye is even greater. Every attack seeking to disrupt our nation’s peace and security will fail and ultimately strike back at the bloodthirsty terror barons themselves.”

In previous years, SAHA EXPO spanned four days, with the first three days exclusively open to industry professionals and the final day open to the public. This year, due to overwhelming public demand, the event was extended to five days. As a specialized trade fair, the first three days remained invitation-only for sector professionals, while the exhibition welcomed the public on October 25 and 26, attracting significant interest. According to SAHA Istanbul, this year’s event drew more than 150,000 visitors, including industry professionals.

Held every two years, SAHA EXPO 2024 brought together professionals and stakeholders from the defense, security, maritime, and aerospace industries at the Istanbul Expo Center. This year’s event spanned eight exhibition halls, including foyer and outdoor areas, covering a total of 90,000 square meters of indoor space. Compared to the previous edition, which occupied six halls and 60,000 square meters, SAHA EXPO 2024 recorded a remarkable 50% increase in exhibition space.

According to data from SAHA Istanbul, the SAHA EXPO International Defence and Aerospace Exhibition hosted 1,478 companies from 121 countries. Of these, 1,224 were domestic firms, while 176 were international participants. Designed to maximize its contribution to promoting Türkiye’s defense and aerospace industries and boosting export potential, SAHA EXPO has firmly established itself as one of the region’s largest industry events. As in previous years, the exhibition provided an effective platform for fostering major partnerships. According to SAHA Istanbul, the expanded exhibition area of 90,000 square meters featured the following key highlights:

213 new products were unveiled for the first time at SAHA EXPO.

A total of 25,944 industry experts convened for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

1,478 companies from 121 countries participated.

178 foreign procurement delegations from 35 countries attended.

Delegations from 51 countries across five continents included 27 ministers, six chiefs of general staff, 13 commanders-in-chief, and six presidents or vice presidents of defense agencies, with 97 delegations and 422 official representatives hosted.

Over 200 collaboration agreements were signed during official ceremonies. 

More than 300 products were launched.

A total of 22,467 B2B meetings took place.

Over five days, 133 agreements were signed, totaling $6.189 billion, including $4.332 billion in export contracts.

On the final day of SAHA EXPO, Haluk BAYRAKTAR, Chairman of SAHA Istanbul and General Manager of BAYKAR, held a press conference alongside İlhami KELEŞ, Vice Chairman of SAHA Istanbul and General Manager of MKE; Ahmet AKYOL, Board Member of SAHA Istanbul and General Manager of ASELSAN; and Levent Kerim UÇA, Secretary General of SAHA Istanbul.

BAYRAKTAR highlighted the significance of participation, stating: "Of the 1,478 companies attending SAHA EXPO, 176 were international, while the remaining 1,224 were domestic firms. This is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating the depth our country has reached in the defense industry. Twenty years ago, defense fairs in Türkiye featured only two Turkish companies. Today, over 1,200 of our companies are here, showcasing their nationally developed technologies. This is a significant milestone." He also underscored the scale of activity at the event: "A total of 22,467 B2B meetings were held, and the exhibition welcomed more than 100,000 visitors. 213 new products were unveiled for the first time. Additionally, 133 agreements were signed, totaling $6.189 billion in value. Most notably, $4.332 billion of this total came from export contracts." He further emphasized the transformative progress Türkiye has made in the defense sector over the past two decades: "You can see many examples of this progress at the expo. It’s not just about the main platforms but also significant advancements in subsystems, technologies, and every area of the industry. Ensuring these achievements are carried forward sustainably requires strong domestic dynamics and robust export capabilities. As the SAHA Istanbul Board of Directors, we are committed to advancing this vision"