Economy
In AI, Türkiye wants to replicate gains achieved in defense industry
Türkiye is updating its national artificial intelligence strategy as it seeks to replicate the technological gains achieved in its defense industry, whose advancements have overhauled warfare concepts.
Government institutions, defense companies and private-sector firms are intensifying efforts to expand the country’s AI capabilities in areas ranging from large language models and public-sector applications to data infrastructure and autonomous defense systems.
The initiative comes as AI increasingly reshapes global industries, including manufacturing, finance, health care, defense and public administration, prompting countries to compete for technological leadership and digital sovereignty.
The updated strategy is said to aim to position Türkiye among countries capable not only of using AI technologies, but also designing, producing and exporting them competitively on a global scale.
New national AI action plan
Türkiye has begun final preparations for a revised national AI road map coordinated by the Industry and Technology Ministry.
The ministry recently gathered recommendations and stakeholder input under what officials described as a “collective intelligence” and “social ownership” approach. The updated “Artificial Intelligence Action Plan” is expected to be unveiled next month.
The road map is expected to prioritize increasing AI computing power, accelerating digital transformation across industries and public services, and expanding the domestic ecosystem for advanced AI technologies.
Authorities also plan to widen AI-focused education and workforce programs aimed at training specialists capable of turning public-sector data into commercially and strategically valuable applications.
Focus on Turkish-language AI models
One of Türkiye’s most visible AI initiatives centers on developing Turkish-language large language models.
T3 AI, developed through a partnership between the T3 Foundation and drone pioneer Baykar, entered beta testing in July 2025 through the NSosyal social media platform. The open-source model is designed to operate in Turkish as well as multiple other languages.
The project includes cooperation from institutions such as the Education Ministry, state-owned Anadolu Agency (AA), public broadcaster TRT, Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA), the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) and Microsoft.
Meanwhile, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBITAK) is continuing efforts to build another domestic large language model tailored specifically to Turkish linguistic and cultural nuances.
Domestic data infrastructure push
Türkiye is also accelerating investments in domestic data-center infrastructure in an effort to keep sensitive data stored and processed within the country.
Under a partnership between Turkcell and Google Cloud, hyperscale data centers are planned in Ankara, with full operational capacity targeted by 2028.
The facilities are expected to support cloud computing, AI training and high-performance data processing while helping reduce reliance on overseas infrastructure.
Defense industry takes leading role
Türkiye’s defense sector, which has gained international prominence through combat drones and indigenous military systems, is expected to play a central role in the AI transformation.
The Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) earlier this year released a request-for-information document for the ALFA Artificial Intelligence, Quantum and Autonomous Systems Exercise.
The exercise scenarios include interoperability, swarm drone capabilities, urban operations, underwater infrastructure protection and quantum-encrypted communication among unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense company Havelsan has also expanded its MAIN corporate AI platform, which focuses on Turkish-language capabilities and public-sector applications.
According to the company, the platform includes a 9-billion-parameter large language model optimized for Turkish and supports more than 200 languages for translation, summarization and text analysis.
Additional capabilities include voice-command processing, meeting-note generation, tactical planning, media analysis, cybersecurity assistance and coding support.
Public institutions adapt to AI era
Public institutions are also moving to integrate AI-compatible systems and standards.
The Directorate of Communications has launched a technical transformation initiative for government websites aimed at improving the way AI systems identify and interpret official information online.
Authorities say the effort is designed to strengthen the visibility and integrity of official information while helping counter digital misinformation and manipulation.
The initiative is expected to enable AI systems to accurately recognize and interpret the content, institutional structures and primary reference areas found on the websites of public institutions.
It aims to preserve the integrity of public information, increase the visibility of official content and strengthen Türkiye’s communication capacity.
The directorate also became the first Turkish public institution to join the open-source AI platform Hugging Face, which has more than 18 million users globally and hosts over 2.4 million AI models.
Cooperation with Turkic states
Türkiye is also seeking broader regional cooperation on artificial intelligence through the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
At an informal summit held this month in Turkistan, Kazakhstan, member states discussed joint initiatives, including the development of a shared Turkic large language model and broader AI collaboration.
The countries also agreed to prepare an AI and Digital Development Action Plan by the end of the year, focusing on areas such as education technologies, health care systems, cultural preservation and economic integration.
Tehran has rejected Oman’s proposal for regional joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, a report said Wednesday, dashing hopes for a swift diplomatic breakthrough in the war that has disrupted Gulf trade for months.
Oman proposed a new regional deal aimed at resolving the conflict over the critical strait, through which about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
However, Tehran ruled out Oman’s proposal for regional joint management of the strait, saying it had no chance of success, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are trying to pressure Oman to advance their “unrealistic plans” regarding the strategic strait, the official told Reuters. Iran insisted the entire inbound route through the strait and part of the outbound route must be under Iranian control, the official added.
A 50-50 joint control arrangement with Oman would not serve Iran’s interests, though Tehran considers Oman a valuable neighbor, the official said.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday its forces struck three oil tankers in the strait and forced them to stop after they ignored warnings for taking an “unsafe and illegal route.”
The IRGC Navy said in a statement that it continued to maintain full control over the strategic waterway and warned that “unlawful U.S. military interference” and instructions to vessels in the region would not go unanswered.
Oil prices surge again
Oil prices rose over $3 a barrel on Wednesday as attacks intensified once again.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia launched strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq on Wednesday, saying they were responsible for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, prompting Iran to warn that blaming it for such attacks was a “major miscalculation.”
The U.S.-Saudi strikes in eastern Iraq occurred just hours after the U.S. military said its air defenses had averted a surprise Iranian attack on U.S. troops in the region. The IRGC said on Wednesday it had fired several ballistic missiles at U.S. military installations in Jordan.
Jordan’s military said its air defenses intercepted and shot down five Iranian missiles targeting the kingdom on Wednesday.
Back-and-forth attacks in recent days have ended a brief pause in the fighting, after U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly called off a two-week U.S. bombing campaign and Iran appeared to follow suit.
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that its air defenses destroyed several drones targeting oil facilities in the kingdom’s Eastern Province. Iran-backed groups launched the attacks from Iraqi territory, Saudi Defense Ministry spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said.
Later in the day, U.S. Central Command and Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said the two countries hit multiple sites across eastern Iraq that they said had been used by Iran to direct drone attacks.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said a number of its official headquarters in different parts of Iraq were attacked on Wednesday by what it described as U.S. and Saudi forces. The PMF said preliminary reports indicated several people were killed and others wounded, with damage to a number of its buildings and facilities.
Speaking to state TV in Iran, an Iranian defense official strongly denied any connection between projectiles fired from other countries toward Saudi targets.
The unnamed military official, quoted by state broadcaster IRIB, said attributing attacks on U.S. interests in the region to Iran was a “major miscalculation.”
Oman proposes joint management of Hormuz
In an effort to resolve the conflict over the Strait of Hormuz, Oman had presented Iran with a plan backed by Gulf states to manage the waterway that would include collecting voluntary fees from ships.
Under the Omani proposal, Iran would not exercise sole control and fees would be voluntary, a Gulf source and a Western diplomat briefed on the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.
The system would be analogous to one in place on Asia’s Strait of Malacca, where Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore ask ships to pay voluntary contributions to fund navigation, environmental protection and search-and-rescue operations.
Iran effectively shut the strait after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. A deal last month between the U.S. and Iran partially reopened the strait, with future talks planned to resolve larger issues including Iran’s nuclear program. But the agreement collapsed in early July after Iran fired on vessels using a shipping channel it does not recognize.
Türkiye is making a strategic contribution to NATO’s future security architecture through its technology development capacity, engineering expertise and defense industry cooperation, according to the chief of the top Turkish defense contractor.
Remarks by Mehmet Demiroğlu, the CEO of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), came during a panel, Perspectives from Ankara: The security and defense implications of the NATO Summit, hosted by the U.K.-based think tank Chatham House in London.
The panel addressed trends shaping the defense industry, evolving security requirements and the transformative impact of technology, Demiroğlu said on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
Discussions also focused on joint capability development, technology integration, and cooperation among NATO defense industries, as well as Türkiye’s strategic role in this transformation.
Demiroğlu said the Turkish defense industry had moved beyond merely developing military platforms and become a strategic stakeholder in the emerging security architecture shaped by the “NATO 3.0” vision.
He said Türkiye will continue contributing to NATO’s future security architecture through its ability to develop technology, its engineering strength, and its approach to cooperation.
Production capacity central to collective deterrence
Demiroğlu said production capacity, technological development, and joint industrial projects were becoming key elements of NATO’s collective deterrence.
Under the new security paradigm, security depends not only on military strength but also on a robust defense industry, sustainable manufacturing capacity, resilient supply chains, technological superiority and cooperation among allies, he said.
Türkiye’s defense industry ecosystem is well positioned to support this approach, while TAI contributes through its indigenous platforms, engineering infrastructure and production capabilities, he added.
Demiroğlu said Türkiye had become a major producer contributing not only to its own defense needs but also to the security of friendly and allied countries.
He also stressed the importance of stronger transatlantic cooperation for European security.
“We want to see a stronger NATO with contributions from both sides of the Atlantic,” he said.
Defense spending should be assessed not only by budget size but also by the capabilities developed to address specific threats, he added.
Hürjet strengthens Türkiye’s role in NATO ecosystem
Demiroğlu said the planned export of the Hürjet advanced jet trainer to Spain represented more than a commercial achievement.
The project is a strategic step strengthening the position of Türkiye’s aviation technologies within the European and NATO defense ecosystem, he said.
Hürjet can be adapted to different user requirements and conduct missions in line with NATO standards, helping deepen cooperation with allied countries, he added.
Demiroğlu said cost-effective systems that can be produced rapidly and adapted to operational needs were gaining importance alongside advanced platforms.
TAI will continue strengthening Türkiye’s global position in the defense industry while contributing to NATO’s and Europe’s future security architecture, he added.
Oman has presented Iran with a plan backed by Gulf states to manage the Strait of Hormuz, including the collection of voluntary transit fees, a report said Tuesday. The proposal could provide a basis for ending the trade disruption in the waterway caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who abruptly called off a two-week U.S. bombing campaign over the weekend in his latest strategic U-turn, said there were “good talks” underway with Iran but threatened to restart strikes unless negotiations deliver.
Iran denies seeking to resume talks with the United States. Washington launched its renewed bombing campaign earlier this month to break Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed before the war.
Iran effectively shut the strait to ships other than its own after the United States and Israel attacked on Feb. 28. A deal last month between the United States and Iran partially reopened it, but the agreement collapsed in early July after Iran fired on ships using a channel it does not approve.
Iran has said it wants to manage the strait alongside Oman, which controls the opposite shore, and charge service fees to ships that use it. Washington wants to return to the status quo prior to the war, when ships were able to pass freely with no payments, and says charging mandatory fees would be illegal.
Under the Omani proposal, Iran would not exercise sole control and fees would be voluntary, Reuters said, citing a Gulf source and a Western diplomat briefed on the matter.
The system would be analogous to one in place on Asia’s Strait of Malacca, where Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore ask ships to pay voluntary contributions to fund navigation, environmental protection and search-and-rescue operations.
The Western diplomat compared it to a voluntary carbon tax for flights, where anyone buying a plane ticket can choose to tick a box if they want to pay to offset their emissions.
The Gulf source said that as of Monday evening there had been no formal response from Iran to the proposal. Omani officials met Iranians in Tehran over the weekend.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi discussed the Strait of Hormuz with his Omani and Saudi counterparts on Monday and stressed the need for regional cooperation, an Iranian Foreign Ministry statement said.
Trump warns of more strikes
Trump called off his latest campaign of airstrikes after receiving advice from military commanders that the strategy had run its course. The 13 nights of renewed U.S. bombing killed scores in Iran and destroyed bridges and tunnels across the south as well as military targets.
Iran had responded with attacks on U.S. bases in neighbouring countries that killed four service members, and strikes on civil infrastructure in Gulf states that it said were in response to U.S. strikes on civilian targets.
Iran has said it would hold fire as long as Washington does. But drone attacks were reported in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and northern Iran on Monday, and Jordan reported another drone being downed on Tuesday.
Speaking on Monday, Trump expressed optimism for a deal to end the five-month conflict, while warning that U.S. strikes would resume if negotiations failed to deliver.
“I think there’s a good chance that something could happen, and if it does, good, if it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago.”
Iran says it has not sought any new negotiations with the United States, which it accuses of violating the agreement reached last month on a framework for talks to end the war.
The U.S. president is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Tuesday. Although Israel was involved in the initial bombing campaign, it has not been part of subsequent peace talks, and recent relations between the two leaders have been strained.
Trump has had to rein in the Israeli leader from attacking targets in Lebanon, complicating peace talks with Tehran.
The end of the U.S. bombing campaign over the weekend sent oil prices tumbling by around 8% on Monday, and the fall continued on Tuesday. Brent crude futures were down more than 2.5% at around $86 a barrel by mid-morning on Tuesday.
Washington and Tehran reached an agreement in June on a framework for talks meant to take place by the end of August to resolve major issues such as Iran’s nuclear program. But they have disputed the meaning of the memorandum’s language about the strait, with Washington insisting it requires Tehran to allow free travel, while Iran says it grants it the authority to supervise transit.
An electro-optic reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting system developed by Türkiye’s state-run defense contractor Aselsan has been integrated into the South African-developed multi-role tactical aircraft Mwari, a report said Tuesday.
That expands the Turkish company’s international footprint with ASELFLIR-500, a product the country developed indigenously following years of restrictions and embargoes on drone camera systems.
The integration enhances the capabilities of the aircraft, developed by South Africa’s Paramount Aerospace Industries, in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as target detection, tracking and designation, Anadolu Agency (AA) said, citing information provided by Aselsan.
Designed for both manned and unmanned aerial platforms, the ASELFLIR-500 combines a high-resolution mid-wave infrared camera, a daylight camera and a short-wave infrared imaging channel.
The system also features laser rangefinding, laser target designation, automatic target tracking, precision stabilization and advanced image-processing capabilities. Weighing approximately 54 kilograms, its laser rangefinder and designator have an operational range of up to 35 kilometers (22 miles).
Equipped with artificial intelligence-supported image processing, the ASELFLIR-500 enables long-range target detection and identification by processing imagery from multiple optical channels.
Its four-axis gimbal and two-axis optical stabilization system minimizes the effects of aircraft maneuvering and vibration, allowing operators to maintain a stable view of targets during missions.
The two-seat Mwari aircraft features an open architecture and plug-and-play integration approach, enabling it to be configured with a range of sensors, weapons and mission systems.
It is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, border and coastal security, counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and precision-strike operations.
Powered by a single turboprop engine, the aircraft can carry payloads of up to 1,000 kilograms (2,205 pounds) across six underwing hardpoints. It has a maximum cruise speed of about 230 knots, a service ceiling of 21,000 feet and a mission range of approximately 1,150 nautical miles.
The integration combines Türkiye’s expertise in electro-optical systems with South Africa’s aircraft development capabilities and is expected to support Aselsan’s expansion into new export markets while enhancing the Mwari’s competitiveness in international sales campaigns.
Aselsan began serial production of the ASELFLIR-500 in 2024. The system has since been integrated into multiple aerial platforms, including the world-renowned Turkish combat drones, including Bayraktar TB2 and Bayraktar TB3, and has been exported to more than 20 countries.
Montenegro has extended visa-free entry for Turkish citizens until the end of October, while announcing that nationals of Russia and Belarus will be required to obtain visas from November as the Balkan nation continues aligning its visa policy with European Union standards.
According to the new measures, visa-free access for citizens of Türkiye, China and Saudi Arabia will remain in force through Oct. 31, local media reported, citing a government decision.
The move forms part of Montenegro’s efforts to harmonize its visa regime with EU rules under Chapter 24 of its accession negotiations, which covers justice, freedom and security.
Under the updated rules, eligible travelers from the affected countries may stay in Montenegro without a visa for up to 30 days, provided they are traveling as part of organized tourist groups or hold diplomatic or official passports and can demonstrate onward or return travel arrangements.
Montenegro reduced the visa-free stay for Turkish citizens from 90 days to 30 days late last year following security-related incidents in the capital, Podgorica.
The government aims to complete full alignment of its visa policy with EU requirements by the end of next year under its reform agenda.
As Montenegro advances toward EU membership, its passport is expected to become more valuable in terms of international mobility, potentially increasing demand for Montenegrin citizenship, particularly among people with family ties to Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Türkiye.
An A350 jet being developed for record-setting commercial flights landed in France from Melbourne on Tuesday after Airbus completed a test flight lasting more than 24 hours, drawing heavy attention from online flight trackers.
The test marks a key step in Qantas’ Project Sunrise, which aims to launch the world’s longest commercial passenger services and reshape long-haul travel by eliminating stopovers between Australia and Europe.
The specially adapted A350-1000ULR airliner is due to debut with the Australian carrier’s nonstop Sydney-London route from 2027. Airbus has been conducting a two-month test campaign on the aircraft since June.
Airbus said the aircraft, which boasts a specially designed extra fuel tank, remained in the air for 24 hours and 24 minutes, covering 23,075 kilometers (14,338 miles) without stopping, before landing at the plane’s factory in Toulouse, France.
Flight-tracking provider Flightradar24 said the trip was the second-most-tracked flight ever on its channels, behind a 2024 flight carrying Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, with more than 3.6 million people following its progress northward via Canada.
In 2005, a Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner flew 21,601.7 km from Hong Kong to London in 22 hours and 42 minutes.
Qantas has ordered 12 modified A350-1000ULR aircraft, designed to connect Australia’s east coast with London and New York in about 20 hours. The services aim to turn what was once a five-day journey on the “Kangaroo Route” to London into a single flight lasting 19 to 21 hours, depending on routing and winds.
The first aircraft, which carries 20,000 liters of fuel and can seat 238 passengers, is due for delivery in April 2027. Qantas expects to operate daily nonstop flights between Sydney and London from October 2027.
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