The Ankara Aerospace and Defense Industrial Zone (HAB), established with a vision from the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), continues to expand its production infrastructure to keep pace with the growing demand in the defense and aviation sector. The zone, which currently spans 9.5 million square meters, plans to add 422,000 new square meters to accommodate 70 additional companies.
What is changing in practice?
Mehmet Nihat Yapıcı, General Manager of the zone, explained that all allocated spaces in the first and second phases have been fully exhausted, as the zone currently hosts 400 participants, 210 of which have already begun production operations. About 60 other companies are working to complete their facilities, which enhances the integration of supply chains within the zone.
The new expansions aim to increase the number of employees in the zone from the current 26,000 to between 35,000 and 40,000, reflecting growth in the volume of operations and production capacity of companies working in the fields of defense and aerospace.
Enhancing infrastructure and digital cooperation
In addition to urban expansion, the zone's management is working to improve logistics through a protocol with the railways to facilitate the transport of employees and goods. Focus is also being placed on:
- Digital Transformation: Launching a digital B2B platform to enhance cooperation between companies, facilitate recruitment processes, and connect talent with companies in need.
- Vocational Training: Planning to establish a vocational school in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education to meet market needs for skilled labor.
- Sustainability: Striving to obtain the "Green Industrial Zone" (Green OSB) certificate, with more than 10,000 seedlings planted in the past two years.
The zone's philosophy relies on creating a "joint force," where companies act as pieces of a single puzzle, making it easier to integrate components and subsystems into major defense platforms that serve the armed forces and relevant institutions, with a focus on meeting the needs of Turkey and allied countries.