Three managers from Turkey's defense industry have been arrested for espionage in favor of foreign powers, with a fourth suspect being sought.

Three managers from Turkey's defense industry were arrested on Tuesday on charges of espionage in favor of foreign powers, according to an announcement from the Istanbul prosecutor's office. Although it was initially mentioned that they were acting for the intelligence services of the United Arab Emirates, this detail was later removed from the official statement.

The operation, led by the Turkish intelligence service MIT, targets managers working in companies essential for defense who intended to provide biographical information about employees of foreign countries. Furthermore, authorities are searching for a fourth suspect. Turkey's defense industry has seen significant expansion, with exports of approximately 6.2 billion euros, and the country ranks 11th globally in this sector, with military drones being among the most successful products.