Turkish military's needs will be met by domestic production

Turkish PM Erdogan said that half of Turkish military's needs would be met by domestic production by the end of the year.

Saturday, 30 October 2010

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey's defense industry had made a great progress in recent years and that half of Turkish military's needs would be met by domestic production by the end of the year.

In his televised address to nation, Erdogan said that Turkish defense industry could meet only 25 percent of needs of Turkish Armed Forces in 2002. However, he said, it broke through a level at 46 percent in 2009.

"Our goal is to make it 50 percent by the end of this year," Erdogan said.

In 2002, sales of national defense industry was $ 1 billion. It rose to $2.5 billion in 2009.

"I hope we will see $3 billion this year. Also, exports of our defense industry companies climbed to $832 million from $240 million. Our target for 2011 is $1 billion," he said.

Erdogan added that Turkey had designed its first national infantry rifle.

"We will start serial production of that rifle in 2011. Turkish troops will carry weapons produced by our own means. We have also started production of our own tanks with all integrated systems. Prototypes of this tank, which we named 'Altay', are being built now. Moreover, prototype production of 'Anka', our unmanned aerial vehicle, has started. Test flights of 'Atak', our first national helicopter, will be made this year as well. Turkish engineers are also working on a project to build our first intelligence satellite 'Gokturk'. We plan to launch it in 2012," Erdogan said.

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=65737.