The Roketsan investment drive moved into a new phase this week as Türkiye opened new production facilities for the state-backed missile maker. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the new plants would help Türkiye produce advanced defense systems faster and in larger quantities.
At the opening ceremony in Ankara, Erdogan said the completed phase represented about $1 billion in investment and formed part of a broader $3 billion program. He said the project would accelerate Türkiye’s goals in missile production, smart munitions, air defense and research capacity.
Roketsan investment expands missile production
Roketsan CEO Murat Ikinci described the wider program as one of the largest defense industry investments in modern Turkish history. The project includes a warhead facility, missile integration plants and a fuel production facility in Kirikkale. Anadolu reported that the first completed stage also includes Europe’s largest warhead plant and a new research and development center.
During the ceremony, Erdogan also announced deliveries of several domestically produced missile systems to the Turkish armed forces. Those included Tayfun, Siper, Atmaca, Hisar-A, Hisar-O, Sungur, Cakir, Som, Siha, Mam-T and Mam-L systems, according to Turkish media reports on the event.
Exports remain part of the strategy
The Roketsan investment program is also tied to Türkiye’s export ambitions. Roketsan has already signed cooperation deals with countries including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, covering joint production and technology transfer in missile systems. That means the expansion is not only about domestic supply. It is also part of Türkiye’s broader effort to strengthen its global defense footprint.
Erdogan said the new plants would help Türkiye strengthen its layered air defense and expand its cruise and ballistic missile capabilities. For now, the new facilities show that Ankara continues to invest heavily in domestic production as it tries to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and build a larger role in international defense markets.
