Istanbul this week hosted the largest edition of the SAHA defence, aerospace and aviation fair in Turkish history, drawing more than 1,700 companies from over 120 countries and generating $8 billion in business, including $6 billion in direct export agreements. The expo showcased 203 products making their public debut — from combat drones and smart munitions to radar systems and warships — and attracted roughly 112,000 visitors over four days. At its heart was Baykar, the Turkish drone manufacturer that has emerged as one of the most consequential players in the global defence market.

Baykar's rise is a story that began far from the battlefield. The company was founded in 1984 by Özdemir Bayraktar as a maker of automotive parts — windshield wipers, engine components and pumps. His son Selçuk, after studying aerospace engineering at institutions including the University of Pennsylvania, returned to Turkey with a conviction that drones would reshape modern warfare and that technological self-reliance was a strategic imperative rather than a choice. Often described in Turkey as the