Erdogan Highlights Türkiye’s Defence Achievements and Export Milestones
Ankara, The Gulf Observer: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted Türkiye’s extensive transformation in defence capabilities over the past 22 years, calling it a “historic achievement” in the face of international obstacles. In a message shared on X on Friday, Erdogan described Türkiye’s evolution from reliance on foreign military suppliers to a leading defence producer and exporter.
“We’ve written an epic in the field of defence industry,” Erdogan stated, underscoring achievements like the indigenous “Steel Dome” and long-range “Siper” air defence systems, and the IMECE surveillance satellite, Türkiye’s first domestically produced satellite with global imaging capabilities. He also celebrated the TURKSAT 6A communication satellite, marking Türkiye as one of the few nations able to produce such technology.
Amid enduring international restrictions, Erdogan referenced “overt and covert embargoes” that, he said, have fortified Türkiye’s resolve to attain defence independence. “This march is not solely for Türkiye; it signals a new era for the oppressed and the entire world,” Erdogan asserted.
At the SAHA International Defence and Aerospace Expo 2024 in Istanbul, Erdogan announced that Turkish defence exports reached a record-breaking 178 countries in 2024. Contracts worth $6.2 billion are expected, with $4.6 billion in export agreements, reflecting Türkiye’s position as an emerging global defence leader.
Looking to space, Erdogan noted that expertise gained from the TURKSAT 6A and IMECE projects would advance Türkiye’s upcoming lunar mission, underlining the nation’s commitment to technological leadership and self-reliance.
