The Defense Industry Executive Committee announced yesterday that it has decided to develop 22 projects worth $5 billion, including long-range missile defense system, combat helicopters and drones.
The committee also discussed projects and plans to modernize the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and develop a structure for the Turkish defense industries.
After the meeting, the committee announced that it discussed and approved the "development and production of indigenous long-range defense systems, missiles and smart ammunition, electronic war systems, grenade launchers, rifles, guns, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, combat and general purpose helicopters and drones."
It also approved the production and modernization of tanks, ships, and submarines.
Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, Turkey's Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar, Defense Industry undersecretary Ismail Demir and other top bureaucrats attended the four-hour meeting.
Meanwhile, the general director of Russia's state-run defense company Rostec, Sergey Chemezov announced that the Turkey-Russia S-400 deal exceeded $2 billion.
Speaking to a Russian news agency, Chemezov said, "The cost of the S-400 missile defense system would exceed $2 billion."
Earlier on Sept. 11, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed that the first down payment for the missile system had already been already transferred to Russia.
"The S-400 missile system deal has already been signed by officials. The first installment has also been transferred. The process will continue between Turkey and Russia. Both [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin and I are determined to make this deal happen," he said.
On Sept. 26, Ismail Demir, said, "I will not give a concrete date, as negotiations to minimize the delivery time are currently underway. But, we can say that the delivery will start in two years."
Turkey has sought to boost its local defense industry in order to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ/TAI) recently issued the photos of ATAK-2 helicopters, an upgraded version of ATAK. Reports suggest that the ATAK-2 will be capable of search and rescue as well as naval base operations.
