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Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia have signed a memorandum to expand cooperation in the defense industry. The document was signed in Doha on Wednesday, AnewZ reported, citing Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense.
The memorandum, named “Badr,” aims to deepen cooperation among the four countries in defense production, technology and training. “Badr” means “full moon.”
The signatories were Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, Indonesia’s Deputy Defense Minister Yusuf Jauhari, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Türkiye’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler. Haluk Gorgun, head of Türkiye’s Defense Industry Agency, also attended the ceremony.
Memorandum covers joint production and research
According to Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense, the agreement sets out plans for closer cooperation in military exercises, training, research and development, as well as defense product manufacturing.
Key areas include joint research projects, production of defense components, technical training and the exchange of engineering expertise. The parties also plan to adapt jointly developed products to each country’s requirements and sell them on international markets.
Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense highlighted the agreement’s commercial potential. The ministry said the countries aim to improve industrial integration, increase production capacity by drawing on their manufacturing capabilities, and meet the defense needs of allied and friendly countries.
Projects range from drones to combat aircraft
The “Badr” memorandum brings under a common framework bilateral defense projects between Türkiye and its three partners involving unmanned aerial vehicles, warships, armored vehicles and combat aircraft.
Türkiye has previously supplied Qatar with Bayraktar TB2 armed unmanned aerial vehicles, armored vehicles and attack boats. The equipment has entered service with Qatar’s armed forces.
Barzan Holding, owned by Qatar’s Ministry of Defense, has signed agreements with Turkish defense companies Aselsan, STM and MKE. BARQ, a company established in Qatar by Aselsan and Barzan, has begun assembling, manufacturing and calibrating remote-controlled weapon systems and electro-optical equipment.
Sheikh Saud said on Monday at the Global Security Forum in Doha that Qatar would soon announce the establishment of a defense production center in the country.
Türkiye’s defense cooperation with Pakistan is anchored by the PN MILGEM (Babur-class) corvette program, led by Turkish company ASFAT. Four warships have been built under the project: two in Istanbul and two at Pakistan’s Karachi shipyard.
As part of the partnership, production facilities at the Karachi shipyard have been modernized, and its workers have received training in shipbuilding and supply. The work is intended to strengthen Pakistan’s domestic warship production capabilities.
Türkiye’s defense partnership with Indonesia covers armored vehicles and advanced combat aircraft. The Kaplan MT medium tank was jointly developed by Türkiye’s FNSS and Indonesia’s PT Pindad under an intergovernmental agreement.
Prototypes and the first production units have been delivered. Under a technology transfer agreement, production is continuing at PT Pindad.
The cooperation also includes Türkiye’s KAAN combat aircraft program. Indonesia became KAAN’s first export customer after signing a contract in July 2025 to buy 48 aircraft. Deliveries are planned over 10 years, alongside the establishment of new production and maintenance facilities in Indonesia. However, serial production of KAAN is not expected to begin before 2028.
A broader defense package with Indonesia also provides for the supply and joint production of Türkiye’s Atmaca anti-ship missiles.
Türkiye’s defense exports reach record levels
The agreement comes as Türkiye’s defense exports grow and the country strengthens its position in the global arms market.
According to the Defense and Aerospace Industry Exporters’ Association (SSI), Türkiye exported around $54 billion worth of defense and aerospace products from 2012 through the first nine months of 2026. More than $30 billion of that total was recorded between 2023 and 2026, accounting for over 55% of exports during the 14-year period.
Exports rose 48% in 2025 to exceed $10 billion, reaching a record level. Sales over the latest 12-month period also topped $11 billion for the first time.
According to figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Türkiye increased its arms exports by 122% over five years, becoming the world’s 11th-largest arms supplier. About 56% of the country’s defense and aerospace exports go to NATO allies.
Türkiye, which has NATO’s second-largest army, is expanding security partnerships with Gulf countries amid the ongoing war involving Iran. Ankara is helping strengthen the defense capabilities of Gulf countries, including Qatar, where Türkiye has a military base.
In August, Türkiye signed a mutual defense pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Under the agreement, an attack on one country will be considered an attack on all.
The “Badr” memorandum, however, concerns industrial cooperation rather than collective security. According to Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense, it covers defense production, military training and research and does not include a mutual defense clause.
