Noting that the TCG Ufuk would significantly contribute to the conducting of Türkiye’s security and intelligence-gathering activities at sea, Erdoğan said: “In 2004, we said we no longer wanted to buy from abroad, and that our projects would be domestic and national. We have been working with resolve and determination ever since, and reached this point. The incidents that took place around us in the past decade have shown once again that nations that are not independent in defense industry cannot look to the future with confidence. Thanks to the progress it has made in defense industry, Türkiye has become a country that can make or break plans in its region. Our country’s success has become a major source of hope for all the oppressed and disadvantaged peoples and communities across the world.”

Underscoring that Türkiye owed its capability to make all the moves necessary for its national interests in all areas, including the fight against terror and cross-border operations, despite overt and covert embargos to its progress in defense industry, Erdoğan said: “Today, we can domestically and nationally design, develop, produce and utilize all the systems across a broad spectrum, including our own unmanned aerial-ground-surface vehicles, helicopters, weapons and ammunitions, missiles, air defense systems, electronic warfare systems. The number of countries that use Turkish defense industry products continue to rise every year. We expect our export volume in defense and aviation to exceed $4 billion by year’s end. (ILKHA)