Turkey plans 229% defense spending boost over three years to advance domestic military tech

Jerusalem Post/Middle EastThe plan was announced during a presentation of Turkey’s new Medium-Term Program (MTP), which sets out the country’s economic roadmap for 2027-2029.Follow us on GoogleTurkey's servicemen stand at attention on a Turkish submarine as they participate in the live-fire phase of the "Blue Homeland-2026" (Mavi Vatan) tactical military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Antalya on April 9, 2026.(photo credit: ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)SEPTEMBER 7, 2026 12:18Turkey plans to increase defense spending by 229% over the next three years as part of a push to develop its own technologies and produce higher-value products in the defense industry, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz announced on Sunday, according to Turkish media reports.“In the defense industry, we aim for a Turkey that develops its own technology and produces high added value,” Yilmaz said. “We are increasing defense spending by 229%.”The plan was announced during a presentation of Turkey’s new Medium-Term Program (MTP), which sets out the country’s economic roadmap for 2027-2029.The increase in defense spending is the largest among the seven priority areas outlined in the program. Spending on social housing is set to increase by 150%, mining exploration by 139%, industrial infrastructure by 54%, railways by 49%, health by 43%, and food supply security by 42%.Envanter Medya, a Turkey-based news site that tracks developments in military technology, noted that the additional funding would support major defense projects, including mass production of the TF-KAAN fighter jet, the first deliveries of the KIZILELMA unmanned fighter aircraft and the delivery of more than 10 ALTAY tanks to the Land Forces.Elite observer day of Exercise Efes-2024 begins on May 30, 2024 in Izmir, Turkey. The elite observer day of Exercise Ephesus-2024, one of the largest combined, joint exercises of the Turkish Armed Forces. (credit: Yavuz Ozden/ dia images via Getty Images)Turkey one of world's largest military spenders“The global economy has recently been going through a new period in which economic, technological and geopolitical developments are intertwined, predictability has decreased, and risks have risen to historically high levels,” Yilmaz said.“The Turkish economy is, of course, not independent of the developments taking place in the world and in our region.”Yilmaz said the war with Iran had created both direct and indirect consequences in many areas, including energy and commodity prices, global trade, the inflation outlook and growth expectations.Turkey’s military spending already reached $30 billion in 2025, making it the world’s 18th-largest military spender, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).Turkish military spending rose 7.2% from the previous year, with SIPRI saying the increase was driven by ongoing military operations in Iraq, Somalia and Syria, but most of all by investment in Turkey’s domestic arms industryFollow us on Google