Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS Group), which has succeeded in exporting to more than 80 countries within the Turkish defence industry, is preparing to increase the export kilogram value in the defence and aviation industry to 250 dollars, supported by its strategic investments.
SYS Group, one of the leading weapons systems manufacturers in the Turkish defence industry, increases the added value of its products with high-tech production and modern solutions developed against contemporary threats.
SYS Group General Manager Cahit Utku Aral assessed their progress in the defence industry since 1998, their export achievements and their 2026 targets. Aral emphasised that the average export value per kilogram of the Turkish defence industry in 2024 was at the level of 67 dollars and that SYS Group had succeeded in increasing this figure to 125 dollars. Aral stated that SYS Group’s target for the coming years is to reach the 250-dollar band.
Recalling that SYS Group’s entry into the defence industry began with pistol production, Aral pointed out that until 2017, due to the ban on producing long-barrel firearms in the private sector, private companies could only manufacture shotguns and pistols. Aral made the following remarks:
“Although pistol production still maintains high added value today, as SYS Group we decided in 2012 to transition to products with even higher added value. Initially, we made significant moves to shift the segment our pistols appealed to into the upper tier. By deciding to enter the sports shooting field, we added important shooters to our team, designed the weapons of the future and moved the market position of our products to segment A, increasing sales prices. We also developed our accessory programme in-house, which is critical in light weapons manufacturing. In this way, we established a very deep and secure accessory portfolio for our users, enabling them to procure both our weapons and accessories. For instance, we are among the first manufacturers to combine pistols with reflex sights (optics), and today we sell more than 70,000 optics annually together with our weapons.”
Explaining that they decided to invest in the medium-calibre field due to the low investment cost in light weapons production and the high level of global competition, Aral described their strategy as follows:
“Due to the bans at the time, we initially invested in gaining the infrastructure to integrate medium-calibre weapons into platforms. We obtained the representation of American and British weapons manufacturers and began integrating their products into land, sea and air platforms with mechanical and electromechanical solutions. This initiative enabled us to acquire a capability we would need in the future once we began manufacturing weapons. With this strategic step, we also learned the market and ensured continuous communication with users by providing integrated logistics support for the products we sold. When the bans were lifted in 2017, we first started the development processes of the 12.7mm heavy machine gun. We began development in January 2018 and completed it in December 2022. Around the same period, we also completed the acquisition of our strategic partner, the British AEI Systems, an important manufacturer in the medium-calibre field. With this acquisition, 20, 25 and 30mm weapons were added to our product portfolio.”
Aral emphasised that UNIROBOTICS, operating within SYS Group and based in Istanbul, has elevated the Group to an important position by developing and producing remote-controlled weapon systems (RWS) for these weapons. He noted that through this, they have reached a portfolio that will increase the export value per kilogram from 125 dollars to over 250 dollars. Aral stated: “For example, today SYS Group is one of the three companies able to manufacture the 30x113mm weapon and one of the two companies producing an RWS for this weapon in-house. Thanks to this, our systems equipped with the most sophisticated AI-based software are serving on offshore patrol vessels, manned and unmanned land and sea platforms, and rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.”
Aral underlined that shifting to upper-segment product groups in light weapons production, investments in the medium-calibre field and mechatronics integration solutions have increased SYS Group’s added value, and he stated that they will continue to make investments and increase the added value of their products as a requirement of being a technology company.
