Determining Turkey's competitiveness in defense industry products: Implementation of the revealed comparative advantages and the comparative export performance method

Due to its geopolitical situation, Turkey has had strategic importance for the defense industry throughout history. Turkey has taken important steps in the defense industry in recent years, reducing its dependence on foreign sources and has come to a position to compete with many countries. Turkey has succeeded in increasing its domestic production in the defense industry, especially since 2000. The main purpose of this study is to determine the competitiveness of Turkey in armored vehicle, artillery, missile and ship product groups against the USA, Russia, China, France and Germany, which are the global power in defense industry exports. In this study, 'Revealed Comparative Advantages' (RCA) index and 'Comparative Export Performance' (CEP) index methods were applied for the period 2010-2020. Research findings show that Turkey's competitive power is high in terms of armored vehicle exports in the 2010-2020 period, according to RCA index values. Turkey surpassed Russia in terms of artillery product requirements and CEP index values in 2015. Although the index follows a fluctuating course, the product export performance of the non-commissioned officers selected between 2011-2017 is high. The comparative export performance of missile CEP index values is generally unsatisfactory. Turkey has a flawed use in missile exports. In 2010 and 2019, it was determined that the export performance of the ships was better than Russia. Export performance with the USA after 2012 is high. As of 2018, in more regions than China. The continuation of Turkey's competitive advantage against the USA, Russia, China, France, and Germany in the export of defense armored vehicles, artillery and ship products depends on Turkey's increasing importance in research and orientation in these product groups and maintaining its strategic trade policies.