In the assessment meeting of the second year of the presidential system, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced, “Though incomplete, still under construction, we have our own aircraft carrier. We will complete its construction. Hopefully, we will have our own aircraft carrier. This is only the beginning, it has been launched. We are in the process of acquiring a few more.”
Yeni Şafak news elaborated on Erdogan’s statements. In the updates shared with regards to the defense industry, Erdogan shared some news that excited people, “We will complete its construction. Hopefully, we will have our own aircraft carrier. This is only the beginning, it was launched. We are in the process of acquiring a few more.”
Some other issues remarked by Erdogan regarding the defense industry also include:
“Our indigenous drone engine, PD-170 concluded its first flight with the ANKA platform. Atmaca cruise missiles are reaching their final test phase. Korkut project’s products are now in inventory. As the leading country in its field, we have delivered 1800 armored vehicles to our forces so far.”
“As part of the new type submarines, Piri Reis was docked, which I witnessed personally . Our floating dry dock, capable of lifting up to 10,000 tons, built for the purpose of maintaining our cruisers, was delivered to İzmir. It’ no laughing matter, we are determined.”
Turkey’s freight and warships will be built in Kızılelma.
Takvim news reported that Ak Party Group vice president Bülent Turan and Çanakkale governor Orhan Vali said that İÇDAŞ – one of Turkey’s heavy industrial giants – had invested 50 billion dollars for the aircraft carrier’s construction and visited the new dry docks which are 370 meters in length and 70 meters in width.
Bülent Turan underlined that this İÇDAŞ project was currently ongoing at the Değirmencik facility and it was a “national pride” project, added to his words by saying, “This will be the biggest dry dock where ships of Marmara, Black Sea and Mediterranean waters, even for the biggest of warships, will be built and repaired.”