Assan Group scandal tests Turkish defence industry resilience (defence24.com)

• Assan Group owner Emin Öner arrested August 2025 on espionage charges related to state security documents.
• Turkish state seized the company via TMSF; sale announced June 2026 for $416.5 million.
• Case highlights challenges in balancing state security with private sector investment in Turkey's defence industry.

"The Turkish defence industry faces a crisis as private ammunition and missile systems manufacturer Assan Group was seized by the state following August 2025 arrests of its owner Emin Öner and CEO Gürcan Okumuş on charges of military espionage and illegally obtaining state security documents. The Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) took control and in June 2026 announced the sale of the entire "Assan Group Commercial and Economic Entity" valued at $416.5 million. While the sector avoided production collapse, the case highlights challenges in protecting classified information, governance of private defence firms, and maintaining foreign investor confidence in Turkey's regulatory environment."