“We advance with firm steps towards the goal of a fully independent Türkiye in defense industry”

 

Speaking at a ceremony held for the first delivery of new Altay tanks, President Erdoğan said: “In light of the decisions taken by the Defense Industry Executive Committee, which is chaired by me, we advance with firm steps towards the goal of a fully independent Türkiye in defense industry. We develop and introduce new projects and new defense products as we also inaugurate our new facilities and add indigenous and national vehicles to our inventory.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at a ceremony held for the opening of the BMC Ankara tank and new generation armored vehicles production facility and the first delivery of new Altay tanks.

“WE DEVELOP AND INTRODUCE NEW PROJECTS AND NEW DEFENSE PRODUCTS”

Extending his gratitude to all, who work selflessly in order for the Turkish defense industry to develop, grow stronger and become fully independent, and wishing Allah’s mercy upon those, who have died a martyr’s death for this cause, President Erdoğan stressed that he particularly remember with grace and respect those, who were martyred at the treacherous attack on TUSAŞ facility on October 23 the previous year, and said: “In light of the decisions taken by the Defense Industry Executive Committee, which is chaired by me, we advance with firm steps towards the goal of a fully independent Türkiye in defense industry. We develop and introduce new projects and new defense products as we also inaugurate our new facilities and add indigenous and national vehicles to our inventory.”

“EIGHT ALTAY TANKS WILL BE PRODUCED IN A MONTH”

Underscoring that they provided the gallant Turkish army with the “Steel Dome”, which consists of 47 vehicles, just two months ago, President Erdoğan pointed to the opening of 14 production facilities and the groundbreaking of the technology base of ASELSAN, and noted that eight Altay tanks will be produced in a month at the BMC Ankara tank and new generation armored vehicles production facility, which they are inaugurating today.

“As is the case with our other defense products, our target with Altay tanks is to avoid dependence on anyone, especially concerning critical materials. Just as we have come to this stage despite embargoes, we will inshallah successfully manage the process from on as well,” President Erdoğan said.

“YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG AND DETERRENT IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER”

“We constantly face the reality that we live in a world, where being rightful is not enough, but you should be strong as well to protect your rights,” President Erdoğan stated, and went on to say: “We saw it before in the 1990s in Bosnia. Afterwards we saw it in our neighbor Syria for 14 years. And most recently we have seen it in Gaza, where 70 thousand innocent people have lost their lives. Our thousands, hundreds of thousands of brothers and sisters, most of them children and women, have been massacred, have been subjected to mass killings, but neither international law nor institutions with massive budgets have prevented these oppressions or massacres. Organizations, whose duty is to ensure global peace and security, have not taken any steps. They have protected murderous oppressors in many regions, let alone stopping them. What is true is that if you want to live in a dignified manner today, you have to be strong and deterrent in every area.”

“WE HAVE MADE TÜRKİYE A COUNTRY THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED”

Stressing that Türkiye has been one of the first countries that have realized this era, when risks and threats increase in an asymmetric manner, President Erdoğan continued as follows: “We have made our assessments, taken our measures and done our homework well, so to speak, since the day one. With the steps we have taken, notably in defense industry, diplomacy and security, in the past 23 years, we have made Türkiye a country that cannot be ignored. We have mobilized all our diplomatic, military, political, financial and economic means for a fair world, where the oppressed do not bow down to the oppressor, and where the strong do not crush the weak. We have rushed to the help of our friends during their most trying times. We have healed the wounds of our brothers and sisters.”