Turkey to be global player in defense industries: Top official

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Turkish defense industry will be a global player in its field, Ismail Demir, the head of Turkey's Defense Industries Presidency, said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF), one of the world’s largest global defense events, he said the Turkish army uses domestic products such as unmanned aerial vehicles, military ships, armored vehicles, air defense and weapon systems.

The IDEF kicked off in Istanbul on Tuesday to showcase the latest military products from both Turkey and the world.

Demir noted that domestic security forces also benefit from indigenous and national defense products.

Turkey will be a leading and model country in the field of indigenous and national production by supporting the design and developing activities and creating industrial structure, he underlined.

"I believe that we will achieve the target of making the Turkish defense industry a global player," he added.