ISTANBUL

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of developing homegrown air defense systems on Wednesday, especially in the face of current security challenges.

"No country that cannot develop its own air defense system can look to the future with confidence in the face of current challenges," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during defense firm Aselsan's groundbreaking ceremony in Ankara.

"Today, we are providing our heroic army with the Sky Dome systems, consisting of a total of 47 vehicles worth $460 million, that will instill confidence in friends and fear in enemies," the president said.

He emphasized that with the Steel Dome air defense system, Türkiye will now be in "a different league" in air defense.

The addition of three HISAR medium-range air defense systems and a total of 21 vehicles will further strengthen Türkiye's deterrence at medium range, Erdogan noted.

He also stated that Türkiye is making its defense industry systems available to its friends and allies, and increasing its diplomatic effectiveness.

Erdogan noted that Aselsan plays a critical role in the Steel Dome, in addition to system development, and noted that the firm has also developed the artificial intelligence-based command and control software that will enable instant communication and integrated operation of all systems in the field.

The president stated that thanks to this software, which will form the backbone of the Steel Dome, hundreds of air defense systems in the field will operate as a single system.

Türkiye's Defense Industries Secretary Haluk Gorgun, also attending the ceremony, said that the localization rate in the defense industry has reached 83% and a user network has been established in 185 countries with an annual export volume of nearly $7.5 billion.

"The Ogulbey Technology Base, whose foundation we laid today, will be a pioneering center where future command and control systems, advanced communication networks, quantum technologies, and artificial intelligence-based defense algorithms will be developed," Gorgun said.

The Turkish defense firm Aselsan's CEO Ahmet Akyol stated that they have taken a historic step today and said: "We are excitedly launching a $1.5 billion investment in our new Ogulbey campus, covering 6,500 acres."