Inaugurating National Production Facilities, President Erdogan Says Turkey's Fighter Jet First Flying 2025

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the inauguration of the opening of the National Fighter Jet Production Facility. (Source: Presidency of The Republic of Turkiye, Directorate of Communications)

JAKARTA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country is one of the countries that is capable of producing its own fighter aircraft, including the top drone manufacturers.

This was said by the Turkish president at the opening ceremony of the National Fighter Jet Production Facility located in the Aerospace and Aerospace Industrial Zone, located in the capital Ankara, Thursday 6 January.

President Erdogan said the National Fighter Aircraft (MMU), Turkey's long-awaited 5th generation fighter jet, would make its first launch in 2025, after making its first appearance from the hangar in 2023.

"The warplane will cite in the sky in 2029, as the strike force of the Turkish Air Force, after completing its test procedures," President Erdogan's Daily Sabah said on Jan. 7.

The 2,300 engineers involved in the project will carry out their work in this hub, President Erdogan on the construction of Turkey's national fighter aircraft.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the inauguration of the opening of the National Fighter Jet Production Facility. (Source: Presidency of The Republic of Turkiye, Directorate of Communications)

He further said, Turkey is one of ten countries that are included in the elite group that is able to design and build its own fighter aircraft. Also included in the top three drone manufacturers in the world.

"And we are now one of the top three countries in the production of UAVs, UCAVs and combat UAVs," President Erdogan said, citing the website of the Presidency of The Republic of Turkiye, Directorate of Communications.

On the same occasion, President Erdoan stressed, Turkey has become a country that is able to meet not only its own needs, but also the needs of friendly and allied countries in terms of land and sea vehicles.

Touting the growth of Turkey's defense industry over the past two decades under the rule of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), President Erdogan said the number of his defense industry projects had reached 750.

"We are now raising the bar much higher and preparing our country for future warfare. By increasing our research and development investment, we are one by one implementing systems that require high technology," he concluded.