President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims that Türkiye’s defense exports reached a record $4.4 billion last year, up from $248 million twenty years ago, TRT world reports.
He claimed at a military event in the province of Sakarya on Monday that the number of Turkish enterprises in the defense industry had increased to almost 2,000 from only 56 in 2002 when the Justice and Development (AK) Party came to office.
“We will not stop (advancing) in the defense industry,” he said, adding that Türkiye’s budget last year allocated $1.5 billion for defense industry research and development, TRT World reported.
The T-155 Fırtına (Storm) howitzer, which Türkiye sells to allies while also utilizing it on the battlefield, is a crucial component of its increasing defensive armament.
Erdogan saw the T-155 Fırtına II, an updated variant of the weapon, be delivered in its first six pieces during the Sakarya ceremony. At least 140 pieces of military equipment are in the government’s sights.
The T-155 Fırtına II, described as “next generation” technology that “substantially boosts the firepower” of the Turkish military, has a 360 km (223 mi) shooting range and a peak speed of 65 km (40 mph).
The K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzer produced by South Korea has a new version, the T-155 Fırtına II, that was first tested in 2001 by the Turkish military.
The self-propelled howitzers are currently being produced and put together by Turkish Land Forces at the 1010th Army Equipment Repair Factory as part of an ongoing modernization program.
The Turkish fire control and communication systems that are presently installed on the howitzer are in line with NATO requirements.
The Fırtına system will reportedly employ only native gearboxes and engines by 2025.
The improved model, which went into production in 2017, had an increased rate of fire and range, and it could now mount 40 mm grenade launchers, 7.62mm machine guns, and 12.7mm machine guns.
Erdogan also discussed other advancements in the defense sector during his address on Monday, mentioning the Anadolu, which will be the first ship in the world to have unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV). It will start operations later this year.
Additionally, this year will see the debut flight of the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, which will be mounted aboard the Anadolu amphibious assault ship.
Atak-2, a heavy-class assault helicopter, will also make its first flight this year, according to Erdogan.
