The role of the defense industry in industrialization process in Turkey

Countries want to grow economically by increasing their prosperity levels. The way of this development is going through a strong industrial structure. Industrialization has an important share in increasing the welfare level of countries and gaining economic independence. Industrialization is regarded as the measure of development. The defense industry has a significant impact on the basis of the development of many developed countries. The revitalizing and stimulating effect of the defense industry on the economy is regarded as the engine power of economic development and technological development. That the defense industry needs advanced technology, enables the development of advanced technology by increasing knowledge accumulation. The produced technology will accelerate the economic development by providing the development of the other sectors. Today, many developed countries want to have a say in international platforms by producing a wide range of products, ranging from weapon to software in defense systems. The Republic of Turkey has continued its development as the necessity of industrialization efforts since the establishment and it has passed through many different periods during which deep rooted changes have taken place. In this study, the impact and role of the defense industry in the industrialization process of Turkey was investigated. The industrialization process of Turkey has been discussed in the period and the parameters that will affect the chronological flow have been discussed in the period. In this study, SWOT analysis was made based on the results of various firm managers and firms' annual reports and the impact of the defense industry in the industrialization process was investigated. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the defense industry positively affected industrialization in the industrialization process of Turkey. The study is supported by numerical data and tables.