International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF)

IDEF (International Defence Industry Fair) is a biennial international defence industry fair organized under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Türkiye and managed by the Foundation for Strengthening the Turkish Armed Forces (TSKGV). The TSKGV was established by Law No. 3388 dated 17 June 1987 and began operations with the aim of developing defence systems and supporting the Turkish Armed Forces. In accordance with a decision of the Board of Trustees dated 1992, IDEF began to be organized under the foundation’s supervision.

The first IDEF fair was held in Ankara in 1993; over time, its organizational structure and exhibition area have undergone changes. Since 2009, the Istanbul TÜYAP Fair and Convention Centre, and subsequently the Istanbul Fair Centre, have hosted the event. Organizational authority has been carried out in recent years by KFA Fuarcılık A.Ş. IDEF aims to showcase Türkiye’s production capacity in the defence industry and its potential for outward-looking industrial cooperation.

Structure and Scope of the Fair

IDEF offers a broad platform covering a wide range of areas from land, sea, air and space systems to security and intelligence technologies. Major combat tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, weapon systems, electronic warfare solutions, missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), reconnaissance and surveillance platforms, and radar and sensor systems are among the main product categories exhibited at the fair.

The scope of the fair is not limited to military equipment alone. Indirect defence elements such as textiles, food supplies, logistics support systems, and training and simulation systems are also displayed. Maritime platforms include various systems such as warships, landing craft, and unmanned underwater systems. Air platforms encompass fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, airborne early warning systems, and armed UAV systems. The fair also introduces cyber security solutions, biometric identification systems, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) equipment, civil defence gear, security engineering products, and advanced defence software technologies.

^{IDEF 2025 Promotion Video} (IDEF)

Participant Profile and Activities

Participation in IDEF facilitates interaction among a wide professional community active in the defence and security sector. Participants include defence industry manufacturers, software and hardware developers, military officials, public institutions and organizations, universities, research centres, media representatives and academics. Civil society organizations and private sector representatives also participate in the fair. IDEF is not merely an exhibition space; it is a multifaceted platform where business meetings take place, technologies are presented, and international panels and seminars are held. Particularly in the 2025 edition, information exchange and strategic collaborations among sector representatives are encouraged through dedicated meeting platforms and panels. Ship visits, product demonstrations, technological presentations, and sector-specific sessions are included in the fair’s program.

The expanded venue of IDEF 2025, encompassing Atatürk Airport and the Istanbul Fair Centre, is planned to provide a more functional space. The “Defenders of Tomorrow” (D.O.T) area, to be featured among the events, is dedicated to start-ups and university projects. This area aims to evaluate innovative ideas in defence technologies.

Strategic Role and International Impact

IDEF serves as a showcase for Türkiye’s capabilities in the defence industry on the international stage. At the same time, it provides opportunities for companies competing in the global defence market to identify new markets and develop partnerships. Within the context of Türkiye’s defence export strategy, IDEF is regarded as an important instrument in foreign policy and economic relations, contributing to the demonstration of technological competence and the strengthening of defence diplomacy.

At every edition of IDEF, numerous countries from different regions participate, thereby facilitating the development of international defence industry collaborations. Defence officials and institutional representatives from NATO member states as well as from Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America attend the fair. The regular occurrence of the event underscores the sustainability and innovative approach of Türkiye’s defence industry products, establishing an international platform for defence and security that supports mutual information exchange between local and foreign participants.