Turkish defence firms seek to expand share of Latin American market

The Otokar Tulpar equipped with a Leonardo Hitfact Mk II turret armed with a 120 mm cannon at LAAD 2025. (Victor Barreira)

Turkish companies are looking to capitalise on opportunities in the Latin American defence market, demonstrated by their significant presence at the LAAD defence and security exhibition in Rio de Janeiro in early April.

According to Türkiye's Secretariat of Defence Industries (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı: SSB), 24 Turkish companies took part in the exhibition, including Aselsan, FNSS, STM, CANiK Arms, Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE), Otokar, Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayii (TUSAŞ), ASFAT (Askeri Fabrika ve Tersane İşletme), Baykar Teknoloji, Havelsan, Nurol Makina, TAIS Shipyards, Repkon, and Sarsılmaz.

A broad range of military hardware was displayed, including Baykar's Kızılelma, Akıncı, and Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aircraft systems (UASs).

Aselsan showcased its Gözde and LGK 82 laser guidance kits for general purpose bombs, ASELFLIR 500 reconnaissance and targeting system, Siper long-range missile defence system, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs), and Sarp-Zafer remote-controlled weapon system, among other solutions.

Otokar and FNSS displayed their Tulpar infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and Kaplan MT medium tank respectively, eyeing Brazilian Army plans to acquire such vehicles.

Turkish companies also see opportunities in Brazilian modernisation projects for advanced training aircraft, combat helicopters, offshore patrol vessels, UASs and C-UASs, loitering munitions, and ground-based air-defence systems.

Several agreements were signed between Brazilian and Turkish firms during LAAD. Kale Jet Motorları signed a contract with SIATT - Engenharia, Indústria e Comércio to supply its KTJ-3200 turbojet engine for the Brazilian MANSUP-ER anti-ship missile.

TUSAŞ and Embraer also signed a memorandum of understanding to explore potential industrial co-operation.

Brazil's Akaer Engenharia is already collaborating with TUSAŞ on the Hürjet advanced training and light combat aircraft and HAVA SOJ electronic warfare aircraft.