HUKD

Established in 2010 as Turkey’s first aviation cluster, the Aerospace Cluster Association (ACA) carries out a wide range of activities on both national and international scales to support the growth of the aerospace and defense industries. Although headquartered in Izmir, ACA hosts numerous members from various provinces across Turkey, united by two core strategic objectives: "developing a pool of qualified technical talent within the sector" and "enhancing the innovation capabilities of its members—particularly SMEs—to ensure their competitive integration into the global supply chain."

The development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and supporting their participation in the aerospace, space, and defense sectors are among the Association’s top strategic priorities. In this context, we contribute to our members’ inclusion in the highly competitive global supply chain by supporting their certification needs (such as AS 9100, NADCAP, etc.), facilitating their access to sectoral supply opportunities and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and assisting them in securing local and international funding.

Furthermore, ACA is one of the founding members of the European Aerospace Clusters Partnership (EACP), which currently comprises 45 clusters from 18 countries. Through the EACP network and its global initiative, the "Global Aerospace Clusters Partnership" (GACP), our Cluster participates in international events to consult on shared industry challenges and develops collaborative partnerships through EU-funded and other sponsored projects.

In line with this vision, ACA has taken part in numerous projects in collaboration with EACP member clusters, including the "2013 Leonardo da Vinci – Partnerships" project. Another successful initiative conducted with EACP clusters was "HipAir" in 2016, followed by the "SKY 4.0" project, which aimed at developing soft skills to meet the requirements of Industry 4.0. Additionally, we maintain an ongoing cooperation agreement with the Polish aviation cluster, "Aviation Valley."

Among the services we offer to our members are international events organized in coordination with stakeholders such as ESBAŞ (Aegean Free Zone). The primary goal of these events is to bring our members together with national and international OEMs. Most recently, at the "Conference on the Development of Our Domestic and National Industry in the Defense and Aerospace Sector through Global Collaborations," held on October 10-11, 2019, with the support of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), we hosted representatives from global giants such as Boeing, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and GE. Additionally, procurement officials from Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TSKGV) companies (including TUSAŞ, Havelsan, Roketsan, Aselsan, etc.) attended, resulting in highly successful B2B (Business-to-Business) meetings for our members.

As a recent initiative following the COVID-19 pandemic—which emphasized virtual networking—ACA has been organizing online events to promote member activities and strengthen the network between buyers and Turkish suppliers. Furthermore, since 2024, we have been co-organizing "Breakfast Chats" with ESBAŞ to foster more frequent engagement with our members and evaluate global trends. These bimonthly events feature a keynote speaker and two sponsors. With over 80 company representatives in attendance, these gatherings have become a highly preferred platform for our members.

As of January 2026, ACA has a total of 67 members, 47 of which are sectoral companies. bu firms primarily operate in the defense, aerospace, space, and automotive industries. In addition to our corporate members, our association includes individual members consisting of esteemed academics from prominent universities, R&D centers, and senior experts from the sectors we serve.