The 2026 IDA Turkey launch program was held at the OSTİM OSB Conference Hall with the participation of the President of the Presidency of Defence Industries of the Republic of Turkey, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, representatives from the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Turkey, representatives from ASELSAN, TUSAŞ, ROKETSAN, SSTEK companies, and OSSA members.
The first target internationally is Spain.
Speaking at the opening of the program, OSSA Chairman of the Board İbrahim Yarsan stated that they wanted to expand the Industrial Cooperation Days in Defense and Aerospace, which have been held since 2013, beyond Turkey, and that they would continue the event with the abbreviation IDA with this vision.
Yarsan, noting that the event has been held with increasing success each year, said, “As IDA Turkey, we are trying to transform our process into an international event. Our goal is to first hold an event in Europe. We have chosen Spain as our target country. We plan to hold it in Spain next year. We want to move from being the host of delegations here to being the host of delegations in Europe. We plan to increase interaction with SMEs and subcontractors there by going there with our SMEs and main contractors.”
OSTİM Chairman Orhan Aydın noted that OSTİM hosting OSSA and IDA was very valuable. Aydın recalled a petition written by one of OSTİM's founders to the General Staff during the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, stating that their resources and capabilities were at the disposal of the Army. Inviting Ziya Yalçın, a member of the OSTİM Cooperative Board of Directors whose name was mentioned in the petition, Chairman Aydın, along with the Head of the Defense Industry, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, presented Yalçın with a plaque in memory of the industrialists whose names were on the list sent to the General Staff in 1974.
“IDA is very valuable”
The President of the Turkish Presidency's Defence Industry Directorate, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, expressed his satisfaction with the export activities of companies operating in the defense industry. Noting that the vast majority of firms operating in the defense industry are SMEs, Görgün stated, “With a grand vision, and primarily aimed at increasing the visibility and international cooperation of our SMEs, the IDA event, initiated by our cluster OSSA in OSTİM, is invaluable. It aims to create interactions between our SMEs and international global main integrator companies, whether they are main contractors or subcontractors.”
Expressing their support as the Presidency of Defense Industry, Görgün said, “I hope this will be beneficial for our country, our entrepreneurs, our defense industry, and all our technology-producing companies. With this initiative, I reiterate that we hope to hold the IDA event, which we are launching today, together in October.”
With the support of the Turkish Ministry of National Defence and the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey's Defence Industry Directorate; under the management and responsibility of OSSA, and organized by NGF Fuarcılık A.Ş., IDA Turkey stands out as a strategic platform for establishing strong international collaborations in the defence and aerospace sector.
About IDA Türkiye
The fair, successfully organized by the OSTİM Defence and Aerospace Cluster (OSSA) since 2013 under the name "Industrial Cooperation Days in Defence and Aerospace – ICDDA," will be held at Congresium Ankara on October 14-16, 2026, under the name IDA Turkey – Industrial Cooperation Days in Defence and Aerospace. Thus, ICDDA is stepping into a new era by expanding its scope.
The number of participating countries and bilateral business meetings during cooperation days held from 2013 to 2024 are as follows:
2013: Participation from 22 Countries, 2,000 B2B Meetings
2014: Participation from 34 Countries, 4,800 B2B Meetings
2016: Participation from 33 Countries, 5,400 B2B Meetings
2018: Participation from 60 Countries, 5,700 B2B Meetings
2022: Participation from 90 Countries, 7,500 B2B Meetings
2024: Participation from 55 Countries, 8,000 B2B Meetings
A Legacy Carried into the Future
ICDDA's strong business network, knowledge-sharing culture, and technology transfer environment, built over the years, are transforming into a more strategic, visible, and inclusive platform with IDA Turkey. As the experience of the past meets the vision of the future, Türkiye's global potential in the defense and aerospace sector will be represented more strongly on the international stage.
Organized by NGF Fuarcılık A.Ş., under the management and responsibility of OSSA, with the support of the Turkish Ministry of National Defence and the Presidency of Defence Industries of the Republic of Turkey, IDA Turkey will be an international meeting point where the latest developments in land, sea, air and space technologies will be showcased and the foundations of strategic collaborations will be laid.
ICDDA has enriched industry knowledge sharing through seminars attended by giants such as Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, GE, KAI, Rheinmetall, Thales, Rolls-Royce, NATO, and CERN, as well as panels on civil aviation, defense systems, homeland security, logistics, and supply chain. It has also provided a unique business development environment where companies can directly showcase their capabilities through bilateral business meetings and factory and facility visits.
IDA Türkiye will expand this expertise to a broader scope, bringing together decision-makers and all stakeholders across sectors under one roof.
Strong Network and Lasting Partnerships with IDA Türkiye
For organizations operating in the defense and aerospace sector, one of the cornerstones of sustainable growth lies in establishing strong relationships with the right stakeholders. IDA Turkey offers the opportunity to build a strong international network, providing direct connections with global defense industry representatives, decision-makers, and business partners. Participants will have the chance to develop strategic collaborations that continue not only during the exhibition days but also in the long term.
IDA Türkiye; October 14-16, 2026 at Congresium Ankara
IDA Turkey – Industrial Cooperation Days in Defense and Aerospace, where the latest developments in defense, aviation, and space technologies will be showcased and the foundations of strategic collaborations will be laid, will be held at Congresium Ankara on October 14-16, 2026. This major gathering, bringing together industry leaders and decision-makers from all over the world, will offer participating companies the opportunity to gain a strong position in international markets, while also providing visitors with the chance to see firsthand the technologies shaping the future of defense and aviation.
*For detailed information about IDA Türkiye 2026, please visit the website https://idaturkiye.com/.*To watch the launch program:
Photos
