Turkey using 65 indigenous defense industry products: Erdoğan

ISTANBUL

Turkey is using 65 percent indigenous products in its defense operations, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sept. 22.

Speaking in Istanbul, at Teknofest, Turkey’s first aerospace and technology festival, Erdoğan said Turkey would have faced enormous challenges during operations in Turkey and abroad "if we had not reached this level” in the defense industry.

Erdoğan said Turkey is now meeting "65 percent of its defense industry needs."

He said the achievement was only possible by transforming Turkey into a technology-producing country.

"As long as we remain only a user of technology, we cannot guarantee our freedom in any area," Erdoğan said.

The first condition of real freedom, said Erdoğan, comes from designing, producing and exporting technology.

The four-day Teknofest Istanbul, organized by the Turkey Technology Team Foundation (T3) and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, aims to promote and showcase Turkey's rapid technological advances.

Teknofest, which opened on Sept. 20, features air shows, aviation demonstrations, technology competitions, seminars on cutting-edge technology, and an international entrepreneurship summit, along with other activities.

During the festival, leading Turkish defense and technology firms and institutions such as Aselsan, Baykar, IGA, Isbak, Roketsan, TAI, Turkish Airlines, TUBITAK and TURKSAT will hold contests in a dozen different categories.