Turkish defense, aviation cluster grows with new contributions

ISTANBUL

Turkey’s Secretariat General of the Defense and Aviation Cluster Saha Istanbul (SAHA Istanbul), an industrial bloc aiming to strengthen the domestic industry, has enlarged with the contribution of 27 new companies, including local giant Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

The number of the member companies and institutions to join the cluster rose to 342 this year, 11 of them being universities.

TRTest, a company established to develop testing and evaluation infrastructure in the country, also has joined SAHA Istanbul.

Some 194 companies, including Turkish Airlines’ repair and maintenance subsidiary Turkish Technic, the aviation arm of Kale Holding, drone maker Baykar and Sabancı Holding’s Kordsa, had co-founded SAHA Istanbul.

The cluster aims to create synergies by forming cooperation between regional companies to develop and produce high-tech products using existing potential in the region, according to its website.