ASELSAN Climbs into Global Top 40 in the Defense News Top 100 List

Ankara, 1 September 2026 – ASELSAN has climbed to 40th place in the Defense News Top 100 List, up from 43rd last year, becoming the first Turkish defense company to rank among the global Top 40. The achievement reflects the company’s sustained growth, expanding global footprint, record backlog, continued investments in advanced technologies and industrial capacity, and its position as Europe’s fifth-largest defense company by market capitalization.

As Turkiye’s leading defense company, ASELSAN’s upward movement to the global Top 40 underscores the company’s transformation under its aselsaNext strategy, which aims to evolve ASELSAN from a local defense supplier into a leading global defense electronics and systems provider. With capabilities spanning air defense, electronic warfare, radar, electro-optics, communications, avionics, guided munitions, naval systems and unmanned platforms, ASELSAN continues to develop integrated technologies addressing the increasingly complex requirements of modern warfare.

Record Backlog and Surging Investment

ASELSAN’s rise in the ranking also reflects its strong operational performance, sustained investments in advanced technologies, expanding global footprint, and growing stature as a global defense brand. In 2025, the company secured more than USD 2 billion in export contracts, while in the first half of 2026, new contract awards increased 72% to USD 4.9 billion, driving the company’s backlog to a record USD 23.2 billion, up 45%. Revenue increased 38.5% to USD 2 billion in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period of 2025. Over the same period, investments in capacity and scale expansion surged 195% to USD 323 million, while R&D spending rose 41% to USD 804 million, supporting ASELSAN’s continued technological, industrial and international expansion, with its global footprint growing to 97 countries.

More from Aselsan: ASELSAN’s ASELBUOY P Enters Serial Production

Oğulbey Technology Base: A Historic Investment

A major milestone in this expansion is ASELSAN’s Oğulbey Technology Base, the largest investment in the company’s history. The facility is being commissioned in phases, with the first section now operational and employees already beginning production of selected air defense systems on site. Once fully operational, the project is designed to more than double ASELSAN’s production capacity and significantly strengthen its serial production infrastructure for critical systems, particularly those developed as part of Steel Dome. The completed facility is planned to become Europe’s largest integrated air defense facility.

Steel Dome at the Core of ASELSAN’s Growth

At the heart of ASELSAN’s technological transformation is Steel Dome, Turkiye’s sovereign, multi-layered air defense architecture providing integrated protection across different ranges against a wide spectrum of aerial threats. Its advanced, networked capabilities reflect the technological depth behind ASELSAN’s rise in the Defense News Top 100, complemented by the company’s strong capabilities in land, air and naval systems, mission payloads, and electronic warfare superiority.

Leadership Commentary

ASELSAN President & CEO Ahmet Akyol commented on the company’s rise in the global ranking, noting that the jump reflects the scale, momentum and global competitiveness ASELSAN has built. He pointed out that in just three years, the company has grown its backlog from USD 7-8 billion to USD 23 billion, with a year-end target of USD 30 billion given the opportunities and contract negotiations currently underway. Akyol highlighted the company’s more than 14,000 employees, its world-class engineering and R&D community, and its rapidly expanding presence across NATO markets, underscored by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s visit to ASELSAN, as well as across Europe, the Gulf and other strategic regions. He added that ASELSAN is determined to climb even higher in the Defense News Top 100, expanding its export reach, accelerating deliveries, and strengthening its technological and industrial capabilities at scale.

About ASELSAN

Founded in 1975, ASELSAN is Turkiye’s leading defense company, combining five decades of engineering excellence with a growing global presence. The company delivers innovative products, services, and integrated system solutions for critical military and industrial missions, with core competencies in radar, electronic warfare, guidance, electro-optics, and information and communication technologies. Beyond defense, ASELSAN also provides high-value solutions in civilian fields such as transportation, security, automation, and healthcare. Powered by more than 14,000 highly skilled professionals, ASELSAN exports its products and systems to more than 90 countries and maintains a direct presence in 25 countries, operating as a trusted global solution provider.

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