Turkey will produce larger armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in a few months, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Sunday.
Speaking at a mass opening ceremony in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, Erdogan said that the new drones would set "an example to the world".
Noting that Turkey has been producing both surveillance and armed drones, the Turkish leader said: "Now, we are producing larger armed unmanned air vehicles and they will be completed in a few months."
He went on to say that 65 percent of the Turkish defense industry's needs were provided by local producers, highlighting his country's recent success in the sector.
Speaking at a dinner with his party officials in Antalya later in the day, Erdogan, who is also the head of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, commented on the upcoming local elections in the country, saying the elections were crucial for the future of Turkey.
The March 31 elections have become "a matter of survival for our country" due to the latest developments in the region, he said.
Reporting by Zafer Fatih Beyaz, Hatice Ozdemir Tosun and Merve Yildizalp
Writing by Sena Guler and Sibel Ugurlu
Anadolu Agency
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