Published January 15,2026

Subscribe

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that at a time when “information and culture wars” are shaping the global agenda, TRT, Türkiye’s national public broadcaster, and Anadolu Agency are leading the “struggle for truth” and standing as a barrier against cultural degeneration through broadcasts and productions that prioritize what is good, right and just.

Speaking at the launch event of TRT’s new youth channel, TRT Genç, in the Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday, Erdoğan congratulated the Turkish nation and the Muslim world on Mi’raj Night, marking the Prophet Muhammad’s ascension, and prayed for peace and relief for those facing oppression, especially in Gaza.

Erdoğan said TRT, as a public broadcaster, must remain faithful to the truth — particularly on matters related to Türkiye’s history — stressing it has no room for errors driven by ratings concerns.

Welcoming TRT Genç to the airwaves under the slogan “the future is you,” Erdoğan said the channel will become a key platform for young people and contribute to raising generations that will strengthen Türkiye’s vision for the “Century of Türkiye.” He said TRT Genç’s programming, ranging from science and technology to arts, sports, history and daily life, will support the intellectual, emotional and cultural development of youth.

He also stressed that platforms like TRT Genç are needed in the fight against addiction, which he described as one of the major plagues of the modern age.

Erdoğan warned that addiction to drugs, alcohol, online betting, gambling and cigarettes has reached levels “as harmful as terrorism, or even worse” for Türkiye, stressing that security measures alone are not enough.

Describing the family as one of the main battlegrounds of “culture wars,” Erdoğan argued that “distorted relationships” are being promoted across media content, from TV series and films to cartoons, games and toys. He said TRT’s success lies in producing content that the entire family can watch with peace of mind, and called for stronger programming that addresses addiction beyond public service announcements.

Erdoğan also highlighted TRT’s international achievements, noting that the TRT co-produced film Triangle of Sadness won the Palme d’Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, while a TRT World documentary received an Emmy in the news and current affairs category – a first for Türkiye.

He also pointed to the global impact of the documentary Holy Redemption, which focuses on Israeli settlers in Palestine, and said nearly 100 TRT co-productions have won around 500 awards at major festivals over the past four years. Erdoğan also wished success to Palestine 36, set to compete in the Best International Feature category at the 98th Academy Awards.

Published January 15,2026

Subscribe

The Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) Defense Industry Academy will hold the second Defense Industry Talent Management Summit in Ankara on January 14-15 as part of the National Competence Initiative.

According to an announcement from SSB, within the scope of the National Competence Initiative approved at the Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on August 6, 2024, numerous projects and programs are being implemented targeting a wide audience—from high school students to university youth, young professionals, and industry leaders.

The initiative aims to strengthen sustainable human resource capacity in Türkiye’s defense industry, expand the pool of qualified talent, and develop critical competencies in strategic areas. The projects focus on knowledge and experience sharing, collective intelligence, consultation, and cooperation.

The first Defense Industry Talent Management Summit, held in September 2024 with the participation of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Council of Higher Education (YÖK) President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and SSB President Haluk Görgün, hosted over 1,100 participants. The event featured seven panel sessions, four keynote speeches, and seven mini talks over two days under the theme of “Talent and Competence,” addressing the current status of human resources in the defense ecosystem, structural challenges, future skill needs, and leadership approaches.

The second summit, themed around leadership, will take place at the Sheraton Hotel in Ankara on January 14-15, 2026, with the participation of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, and SSB President Haluk Görgün.

The event aims to actively involve HR and academy professionals in defense companies as well as leaders managing technical teams. Discussions will cover leadership approaches at the intersection of technical expertise and managerial perspectives, next-generation competencies, the impact of digital transformation on human resources, evolving organizational structures, and profiles of future leaders.

Compared to the first summit, the second event is expected to host more than 37 speakers and over 1,500 participants.

The summit is intended to strengthen leadership culture in the sector, enhance inter-institutional knowledge and experience sharing, and strategically support human resource policies aligned with the goals of the National Competence Initiative.

Published January 13,2026

Subscribe

Turkish defense firm Aselsan surpassed $30 billion in market value on Tuesday, making it the first Turkish company to hit the landmark threshold.

Aselsan also achieved significant success by ranking among the top 10 most valuable defense industry companies in Europe.

The firm’s success is critically linked to its effectiveness in international markets and its investment in game-changing high-tech products. Making export-oriented growth its top priority, ASELSAN recently reinforced its global presence with a $410 million contract signed with Poland, a NATO member country.

Alongside the rising wave in global markets led by European and US-based technology giants, Aselsan has become a focal point for investors with its advanced tech solutions, and has become perhaps the strongest representative of technological transformation in Türkiye.

Aselsan increased its backlog of orders by 120% from the beginning of 2023 to the present, reaching $17.9 billion, outdoing global giants by nearly tripling the global average increase of 42% in this area.

Similarly, Aselsan’s export contracts also jumped significantly during these years. In the first nine months of 2025, ASELSAN signed new export contracts worth $1.45 billion, soaring 171% from the same period of the previous year.

Published January 14,2026

Subscribe

Türkiye’s leading defense company Baykar is entering a major transformation after acquiring Italian aerospace giant Piaggio Aerospace. The 140-year-old company plans to increase its aircraft production capacity 5 to 6 times with new investments. Haluk Bayraktar, Piaggio Aerospace Chairman and Baykar CEO, shared details on the acquisition and future plans.

Highlighting Piaggio’s long history in the Italian aerospace industry, Bayraktar said, “This is a significant heritage for Baykar. Combining technologies with Piaggio gives us a unique advantage and potential, uniting the strengths of Türkiye and Italy.”

Bayraktar explained that Piaggio currently manufactures the P180 aircraft, produces engine parts, and operates engine maintenance facilities. “With all these capabilities and expertise, we have a very unique aircraft — the world’s fastest turboprop with a distinctive design. By combining Piaggio’s facilities, skills, legacy, and brand with Baykar’s UAV innovations, we see a bright future. P180 is a very special aircraft, and while production has been limited in recent years, our vision is to revive operations and expand production capacity.”

Currently producing 4–5 aircraft per year, Baykar plans to increase P180 Avanti production to 25–30 units annually, supported by existing facilities and supply chains. “Baykar is determined to invest in updates and make this aircraft attractive to the market. Over 250 P180s have been produced, and 220 have been flying since 1986 — a highly reliable fleet with over 1.1 million flight hours.”

“AVANTI NEXT” MODEL COMING

Bayraktar said the company is heavily investing in system upgrades, modernizing avionics with Garmin systems, renewing interiors, and implementing satellite communications. “With these updates, we will launch the ‘Avanti Next’ model,” he said.

STRENGTHENING PRESENCE IN THE U.S.

Baykar will also invest in maintenance and customer services, particularly in the U.S., the largest market for the P180. Agreements with authorized service centers, including a recent one with Interjet Continental Aerospace, and plans for a logistics center will improve support and spare part availability.

INVESTMENTS IN UAV PRODUCTION AND NEW ENGINES

Baykar aims to produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at Piaggio facilities and localize UAV manufacturing in Italy to serve European needs, in partnership with Leonardo. Bayraktar also highlighted plans to expand engine maintenance and repair capabilities with new equipment and investments. “We listen to our customers, especially in the U.S., who are enthusiastic about the P180’s design, performance, speed, and cabin comfort. Enhancing our U.S. operations is our top priority,” he added.