SAHA Istanbul - Defense and Aerospace Cluster

SAHA Istanbul Defense and Aerospace Cluster was established in 2015 to support the development of Türkiye’s defense industry through indigenous and national capabilities and is the largest industrial cluster in Türkiye and Europe. The association operates as a consolidated structure comprising over 1200 member companies universities and research centers active in the defense aerospace and space sectors to enhance Türkiye’s technological and industrial capacity.

SAHA Istanbul Short Introduction Video (SAHA EXPO)

Founding Objective and Mission

The core mission of SAHA Istanbul is to increase the local content ratio in Türkiye’s defense aerospace and space sectors secure the acquisition of critical technologies not yet domestically available and elevate these sectors to international competitive standards. In this direction the association aims to enhance the technological and sectoral competencies of its members foster collaboration and build a robust ecosystem. Its vision is to become a leading cluster structure that strengthens Türkiye in these sectors both nationally and internationally.

Structure and Membership Profile

SAHA Istanbul encompasses over 1200 companies from 45 cities including major prime contractors such as ASELSAN TUSAŞ ROKETSAN, STM ASFAT and BAYKAR MACHINE as well as numerous SMEs suppliers technology parks and universities. The association promotes university-industry collaboration through higher education institutions such as Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Yıldız Technical University (YTÜ) and Sabancı University and TÜBİTAK institutes.

International Identity and Quality Systems

SAHA Istanbul has become the largest cluster within the European Aerospace and Clusters Partnership (EACP) and has implemented the National Aerospace Industry Committee (MİHENK) structure to ensure access to global standards. The association has enabled Turkish companies to issue international aerospace quality certifications such as AS 9100 thereby positioning Türkiye at the forefront of quality management systems.

SAHA EXPO Fair

The SAHA EXPO International Defense Aerospace and Space Industry Fair organized under the patronage of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye is a key component of the strategy to reduce external dependency in Türkiye’s defense industry and enhance export potential. In 2022 the fair attracted 957 companies from 109 countries 289 official and 103 commercial delegations and a total of 78643 professional visitors. The SAHA EXPO to be held in 2024 at the Istanbul Fair Center aims to bring together over 150000 professional visitors and more than 1200 companies from over 100 countries.

Educational and Entrepreneurship Programs

The association contributes to the development of management talent in the defense and aerospace sectors through the SAHA MBA Executive Development Program conducted in collaboration with industry leaders. Launched in 2019 in partnership with TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE the program offers content and tools equivalent to prestigious MBA programs worldwide.

The SAHA Entrepreneurship Program launched in 2021 provides comprehensive support to high technology startups in areas such as training mentoring and access to investors.

Corporate Values and Quality Approach

The activities of SAHA Istanbul are built upon corporate values such as “indigenous and national” “scientific approach” “collaborative work” and “innovative thinking.” The association has adopted the ISO 9001 Quality Management System and has developed a systematic approach in areas including strategic management information security environmental awareness occupational health and safety and sustainable development.

Areas of Activity

• Enhancing the corporate capacities of member companies
• Promoting R&D and innovation activities
• Localizing the defense industry supply chain
• Organizing B2B meetings and intra-sectoral collaboration initiatives
• Integration with international cluster networks
• Increasing defense export potential