Turkish PM reveals $5B defense projects

ERZINCAN, Turkey

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Friday revealed over 20 new Turkish defense industry projects.

Speaking in Erzincan, eastern Turkey, Yildirim said the projects included air defense systems, tank modernization, electronic protection systems and sea vessels. Requirements of the Interior Ministry and Turkey's gendarmerie would also be met, he said.

“We agreed on 22 projects, worth $5 billion, during yesterday’s Defense Industry Executive Committee meeting,” Yildirim told reporters.

The executive committee of Turkey’s Defense Industry Undersecretariat was convened on Thursday by the presidency to discuss the modernization of Turkey's armed forces and the improvement of its defense industry infrastructure.

Reporting by Sinan Uslu and Kemal by Cansu Dikme