The key facts
- About 100 billion lira ($2.01 billion) will be allocated to aviation and space in 2027–2029
- The space program budget will grow from $176 million in 2026 to $495.7 million in 2027 and $745 million in 2029
- Airport passenger traffic is expected to reach 291 million by 2029; the first lunar mission is being prepared
Three-year budget plans
Ankara intends to allocate nearly 100 billion Turkish lira (about $2.01 billion) to the aviation and space industries over the next three years. These figures are contained in the draft central budget for 2027 and the accompanying budget justification, cited by the Anadolu agency. The budget of the space and aviation program, which stands at $176 million this year, will increase by 181.7% in 2027 to $495.7 million, which is expected to strengthen Turkey's competitiveness in the industry. In 2028, funding is projected to reach $616.9 million, and in 2029 — $745 million.
Infrastructure and passenger traffic
A significant portion of the funds will go to aviation infrastructure: $377.3 million is allocated for the construction, operation, and maintenance of air transport facilities. Investment in aviation infrastructure is expected to amount to $581.1 million in 2028 and $596.2 million in 2029 amid growing demand for domestic transportation. Ankara expects to receive 272 million airport passengers next year (including direct transit passengers), 282 million in 2028, and 291 million in 2029.
Space program and lunar mission
The space sector budget is intended to support Turkey's National Space Program, including research, testing infrastructure, and the commercialization of high-tech domestic developments. In recent years, the country has achieved notable results: the first domestically produced telecommunications satellite Turksat 6A and the sub-meter resolution Earth observation satellite Imece have been created. In 2024, Turkey participated in crewed scientific missions for the first time — Alper Gezeravci and Tuva Cihangir Atasever conducted a series of experiments in space.
Lunar mission preparation and spaceport
From October 5 to 9, Antalya hosted the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). The city is preparing for Turkey's first lunar mission, scheduled for next year, as part of deep space research. The mission is based on a domestically built spacecraft with a localization share of more than 80% and a hybrid propulsion system; assembly of the spacecraft is complete, and it is undergoing further testing. In addition, the Turkish Space Agency continues work on creating a spaceport in Somalia to provide the country with independent access to orbit.
