Turkish-made aerial systems contribute to war on terror

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Armed Forces are getting stronger with the country’s own made defense products, the country's Minister of Defense Fikri Isik said on Wednesday.

"We added three new ANKA to our heroic Turkish Armed Forces [inventory]. We are supporting our army's counter-terrorism operations with the new Turkish-made weapons," Isik said while referring to unmanned aircraft.

The ANKA drone is able to do real-time surveillance and target identification.

Three drones -- including an armed one -- were sent to Turkey's southeastern region to combating terrorism, while six Bayraktar drones are ready to be sent there.

Isik told Anadolu Agency that Turkish army's fight against terrorism continues in a determined and successful way.

The armed plane named "Hurkus" -- which means 'free bird' -- will be the nightmare of terrorists," he added.

Hurkus -- a new generation basic trainer -- have been successfully tested and it is likely to be inducted in Turkish Armed Forces in late June.

Turkey aims to be self-sufficient in defense by 2023, when it hopes to be producing its own aircraft carrier.

The country has been combating PKK and far-left terrorism since the 1980s and has more recently taken on Daesh and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which it has accused of launching last July's attempted coup.