Drone production and public shelter construction in 81 provinces of Turkey
Amid escalating security threats in the region, Turkey has announced a comprehensive plan to expand drone production to all 81 of its provinces and to build public shelters across the country. These measures, announced on the eve of the major defense industry fair “SAHA Expo 2026” in Istanbul, signal a shift in Ankara’s defense strategy toward decentralization and preparedness against potential attacks.
According to Haluk Bayraktar, Chairman of the SAHA Istanbul Fair and CEO of Baykar Group, the revenue from ticket sales for this event will be used to establish small and large drone production workshops in all 81 provinces of Turkey. He emphasized: “Our goal is to create drone training and production centers in every province. We have reached the capacity to produce millions of drones across Turkey.”
Selcuk Bayraktar, the renowned designer of Baykar’s drones, also referred to the lessons learned from the Ukraine war, stating: “Russia was easily able to target Ukraine’s largest drone factories. Therefore, the defense industry must be dispersed across all provinces in the form of small and medium-sized workshops so that the enemy cannot carry out an effective attack.”
Meanwhile, the Turkish government has made the construction of reinforced shelters in all 81 provinces a legal obligation. According to the plan of Turkey’s Housing Administration, 86 million square meters of shelters, primarily located under public buildings and parks, will be built, capable of providing basic living needs for 21 days.
Defense experts assess these developments as a reaction to the recent attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime on Iran, as well as concerns over the potential U.S. withdrawal from NATO and increasing threats against Turkey. While referencing Iran’s model of defense self-sufficiency in missile and drone technology, Ankara is now seeking to establish a decentralized and resilient defense ecosystem against any comprehensive attack.
