DÉCRYPTAGE – Driven by the explosion of global military spending, Turkey aims to become a major player in the armaments industry.
The scene is surreal. Military personnel in uniform handle weapons displayed on stands, inspecting and rotating them with expert hands as if trying on a jacket in a store. Others stroll down the aisles, complimentary tote bag in hand, stopping in awe in front of a machine gun mounted on an armored vehicle. At Saha 2026, the international defense and aerospace exhibition located in Istanbul’s massive exhibition center, deadly tools are chosen with the same seriousness – and casualness – one would select a wedding gown.
Under the bright lights of the halls, kamikaze drones, missiles, gas detection robots, and electronic jamming systems compete for visitors’ attention. Outside, fighter jets and towering armored vehicles draw selfie-takers. Further away, behind a wire fence, drones engage in demonstrations.
[Context: The article discusses Turkey’s ambition to assert itself in the global arms industry by participating in the Saha 2026 international defense and aerospace exhibition in Istanbul.]
[Fact Check: The article mentions the use of deadly weapons and military equipment in a trade show setting, highlighting the seriousness with which they are chosen and displayed.]
