Turkey Currently Implementing 650 Defense Industry Projects Worth $60Bln - Erdogan

Turkey is implementing 650 defense industry projects worth a total of $60 billion, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th December, 2018) Turkey is implementing 650 defense industry projects worth a total of $60 billion, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"As of today, 650 defense projects are being implemented in our country for a total amount of $60 billion. These recent achievements in the defense industry are only the beginning, and further steps will be even more active. We will not stop until Turkey fully meets its strategic defense needs, " Erdogan said at a meeting in Ankara on the development of the defense industry.

Only domestically produced armament was used in Ankara's Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield counterterrorism operations, the Turkish president noted.

"Turkish attack helicopters ATAK will be upgraded and become more powerful. We will continue to work on the development of a domestic military aircraft," Erdogan added.

The president went on to urge all Turkish state agencies to refrain from importing armament that does not have strategic value.