Turkey approves new defense projects worth $5.9 billion: PM

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said the country's defense industry executive committee on March 9 approved $5.9 billion in new defense projects, $4.5 billion of which will consist of domestic production.

"We today approved $5.9 billion worth of new defense projects. Around $4.5 billion worth of these projects will consist of local production," he told reporters after the meeting, as quoted by Reuters. 

He noted Turkish defense industry exports rose 35 percent in the first two months of the year and that the country had made significant progress in developing weaponized drones, when elaborating on the latest developments in the county's defense industry. 

"The mass production of our locally-developed infantry rifles will start by this year? We also assessed the latest developments regarding the production of the joint warplane? Our air defense system project will continue without any interruption?  Plus, we have reached a great point in drone production as we do not need foreign technologies anymore," he said. 

In 2013, Turkey selected, over European and U.S. rivals, a Chinese contender for the construction of its first long-range air and anti-missile defense system. Last November it scrapped that competition, saying two local companies would instead build the air defense system. A couple of months ago, it invited the same bidders to cooperate with the Turkish companies for the development of the system while unofficially courting for the purchase of a different system. 

The Anka, a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone developed by Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI), made its debut flight in February, according to officials.  

The Anka flew on Feb. 5 in the eastern province of Elaz?? and reached an altitude...