Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani has arrived in Turkey for an official visit focused on drones and broader defense industry cooperation, Reuters reported.
Nakatani is the first Japanese defense chief to organize an official trip to Turkey, a NATO member state.
His program includes meetings with leading Turkish defense companies such as drone manufacturer Baykar.
In Ankara, Nakatani met with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, who underlined the country’s interest in deepening military and industrial ties with Japan.
A Turkish defense official told Reuters that inspections of drone systems are planned, though no agreement is expected at this stage.
Nakatani will continue his visit in Istanbul, where he is scheduled to tour additional facilities, including the Turkish Aviation and Space Industry and naval shipyards.
Expanding Drone Capacity
As Tokyo looks to expand its reliance on unmanned systems, Ankara is positioning itself as a potential partner, backed by a rapidly growing drone industry and a record of exports to multiple regions.
Alongside its export drive, the country is also advancing domestic innovation.
Defense firm Baykar has launched serial production of the Kızılelma unmanned combat aerial vehicle, a next-generation platform that completed its maiden flight in December 2022.
The aircraft is scheduled to enter service with the Turkish Armed Forces by 2026, with the sixth prototype already in production.
Ankara has expanded its military cooperation to also provide aid.
Earlier this year, Belgium and Turkey joined the International Drone Coalition, a multinational initiative aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense through expanded drone support.
