Turkey produces first domestic infantry rifle

ISTANBUL

Sarsılmaz Arms Industry unveils Turkey’s first locally produced rifle. DHA photo

Turkey has produced its first domestic infantry rifle with an original design, according to the producer company, Sarsılmaz Arms Industry. The rifle, SAR 223, is accompanied by the TE54 machine gun of the same group of weaponry, and they were both described by Sarsılmaz chairman Latif Aral Aliş as “the most modern infantry rifles in the world.”

“These weapons that are built with the new generation are the most modern rifles in the world. We designed them not just for Turkey, but for the world as well,” Aliş said.

About $100 million of exports of the arms are planned by the end of the third year, Aliş said, adding that up to 2,000 new rifles can be produced within a month. Aliş said the company, which already exports to over 70 countries worldwide, also improved itself during the production phases of the new rifles.

“We started Turkey’s first ballistic arms test center. We are developing projects involving sniper rifles and machine guns,” Aliş said. Aliş also added that in time, the company would eventually overthrow the Kalashnikov in the market. The projects cost around 14 million Turkish Liras before production, Aliş said.