Following years of quiet ascent, Turkey’s combat drone industry now finds itself at a moment of decision. Europe’s combat drone market alone is projected to reach $19 billion by 2030, with increasing defense autonomy and joint procurement initiatives like Eurodrone accelerating demand. Cheap and Useful with No Strings AttachedThree core factors explain Turkey’s combat drone prominence globally. NATO Integration: The European Pivot that Makes SenseIn contrast to strategic incoherence elsewhere, Turkish combat drone integration to NATO systems supports a viable and coherent perspective for Ankara’s combat drone futures. These moves open doors to the European combat drone market — projected to exceed $19 billion by 2030 — but also invite greater scrutiny.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 30, 2026 15:01 UTC