Ankara-based Turkish defense technology company Meteksan aims to expand its global presence and enhance international partnerships while strengthening its focus on emerging technologies such as counter-drone, electronic warfare (EW) and unmanned surface vessels, says Burak Akbas, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Meteksan Defence.

“We aim to diversify our product offerings while maintaining a strong commitment to quality and innovation, ensuring we meet the evolving needs of our customers both domestically and internationally,” he says in a wide-ranging interview with GBP Aerospace & Defence.

Excerpts from the interview:

Meteksan’s growth is part of the bigger success story of the Turkish defence industry. What, in your opinion, has contributed to the rapid growth of the country’s defence sector? Is it government policies, availability of a skilled workforce, cooperation between domestic companies, or a bit of everything?

The rapid growth of Türkiye’s defence sector is indeed a multifaceted success story. Government policies have played a crucial role, particularly through increased investment in domestic capabilities and an emphasis on self-sufficiency. Additionally, we have a highly skilled workforce and a robust educational framework that supports continuous talent development. Furthermore, the Turkish defence industry is mainly oriented toward export as these export activities and current success stories also contribute companies’ competitiveness in the international market and Türkiye has become a significant defence exporter, especially for the unmanned aerial vehicles, land vehicles and surface ship programs. Together, these elements create a dynamic environment conducive to growth and innovation.

Please talk about some of the major national defence projects that the company has been involved in.

Meteksan Defence has been actively involved in several key national defense projects like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missile systems, helicopter projects, surface ships and submarine modernization. This highlights our commitment to enhancing Türkiye’s defence capabilities. We provide several products to these national programs such as Radar Systems, Anti-Jamming GNSS units, GNSS Receivers and Antennas, Radar Altimeters, Sonar Systems. Additionally, Meteksan Defence has been involved in the development of ground surveillance radars, counter drone projects, training simulators and unmanned surface vessels. These projects not only showcase our technological prowess but also align with national priorities for security and defence.

Electronic warfare is revolutionizing modern-day warfare. Could you talk about the company’s capabilities in this field?

Meteksan Defence is at the forefront of electronic warfare technologies. Our capabilities include sophisticated electronic attack systems and navigational electronic warfare systems that are designed to ensure operational superiority. Meteksan Defence recently completed development of MERT and MERTER Electronic Attack Systems; these were successfully delivered in 2024. These modern EW systems are used for jamming the target communication systems from long distances by using new generation electronic attack techniques. Additionally, we are planning to deliver SEYMEN Navigational Electronic Warfare System to one of our customers in 2025; this is one of most critical projects of the company. We have developed systems that enhance situational awareness and improve our forces’ survivability in complex environments. Our commitment to R&D in this area ensures that we remain agile and responsive to the evolving needs of modern warfare.

How successful has the company been in expanding its international footprint? What are some of the major international programs that the company is a part of?

Meteksan Defence has seen significant success in expanding its international presence. We have established partnerships in various countries and are involved in programs in regions like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Our collaboration with foreign defence organizations on projects like UAV subsystems, unmanned surface vessels, naval training simulators and radar systems illustrates our growing footprint and commitment to international cooperation in defence. Currently, more than 20 countries are using Meteksan Defence products in the operational field.

Are there lessons, if any, that the company has learned from the ongoing Ukraine war and other regional conflicts?

The ongoing conflicts have underscored the importance of adaptability and technological superiority in modern warfare. We’ve learned that rapid responses to emerging threats like mini/micro UAVs (drones) and the integration of advanced technologies are vital. This has influenced our product management priorities, encouraging us to focus on agile systems that can be quickly deployed and integrated into existing platforms, ensuring that we remain relevant in a rapidly changing landscape. We are especially focused on counter drone systems like KAPAN and recently completed a new Retinar AESA Multi-Mission Radar. KAPAN is one of the preferred counter drone systems of Turkish Armed Forces after several tests and we are planning to increase our market share in the world with KAPAN’s technological capabilities. KAPAN offers a superior drone detection, tracking and neutralization performance for border and critical infrastructure security with its high technology drone detection radar, electro-optic and jammer sub-systems. Retinar AESA is cutting edge, software defined multi-mission radar for anti-drone systems, point air defence weapon systems and surveillance systems.

Advanced technologies such as AI are transforming the defence sector. How extensively is Meteksan incorporating such technologies into its programs?

Meteksan Defence is deeply committed to integrating advanced technologies, including AI, into our programs, especially for the ULAQ Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) family. Our ongoing USV projects include the development of intelligent systems that improve decision-making and operational efficiency, positioning us as a leader in the technological transformation of USV systems worldwide.

What has been the response from international buyers to the company’s ULAQ family of unmanned surface vessels? What makes the product family stand out from the competition?

The ULAQ family has received positive feedback from international buyers, who appreciate its innovative design and capabilities. What sets ULAQ apart is its autonomy features, electronic warfare protection capabilities, modular structure which allows for flexibility for different payloads. ULAQ can handle complex and overwhelming missions that demand very high endurance which are difficult to achieve with humans on the front-line. Therefore, ULAQ can better be considered as an un-crewed system, allowing less personnel to handle difficult and risky missions, thus bringing considerable cost feasibility as well. ULAQ makes these possible with its sophisticated hardware & software designed not only to enable full remote-control capability but also to execute predetermined autonomous missions. Utilizing its autonomous algorithms and artificial intelligence infrastructure, ULAQ platforms can navigate safely, avoid ships/floating platforms as per the COLREGs, regain lost communication and return to the base.

What are the strategic priorities for Meteksan over the next few years?

In the coming years, our strategic priorities include expanding our international presence and enhancing international partnerships, and focusing on emerging technologies such as counter drone, electronic warfare and unmanned surface vessels. We aim to diversify our product offerings while maintaining a strong commitment to quality and innovation, ensuring we meet the evolving needs of our customers both domestically and internationally.

What is the domestic-international split in revenue for the company? Do you have a goal in mind with regard to revenue from international business?

Currently, our revenue split reflects a strong domestic base, with approximately 70% coming from local contracts and 30% from international sales. However, we aim to increase our international revenue to 50% over the next few years. This goal aligns with our strategy to strengthen our global presence and tap into emerging markets.