ERDOĞAN:

I condemn the treacherous attack that was foiled by the intervention of our security forces. We will not allow the climate of trust to be damaged by low and timed provocations.

With this new infrastructure established for our critical air defense systems, strategic missile projects and smart munitions, the deterrence of our heroic army will be at the highest level.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the “ROKETSAN Production Facilities Opening, Mass Production Deliveries and Groundbreaking Ceremony” held in Ankara Lalahan. Erdoğan briefly said the following in his speech at the ceremony:

GREAT DAY IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY
President Erdoğan opened Kırıkkale Fuel Production Facilities, Lalahan Warhead Facility, Advanced Technologies R&D and Engineering Center. At the ceremony, TAYFUN, SİPER, ATMACA, HİSAR-A, HİSAR-O and SUNGUR systems and ÇAKIR, SOM, the sharp claws of SİHAs, MAM-T and MAM-L were delivered to the TAF. The foundations of Lalahan Missile Integration Facilities were also laid.

❱ FOUNDER ACTOR OF THE NEW ORDER: Where air, land and sea domination are intertwined; We are in an age where unmanned technologies and positioning in cyberspace change all balances. We are one of the founding actors of this new order in which the rules and processes are reshaped. We are not worried about keeping up with this new system in which ‘trench warfare has been replaced by cyber warfare’; Because we, as a country, now determine the direction and course both in the field and in technology. With the products, systems, software and platforms we have developed in the last 23 years, our strong human resources and corporate capacity, we have become one of the countries that ‘set the norm’ in this field. Today, Türkiye is a country that protects its own skies, equips its own platforms and develops its own ammunition. We come to the aid of our friends and allies if they request it; We contribute to global peace and security at the highest level.

❱ WE WILL BE IN THE TOP 10: We reduced our foreign dependency rate in defense from 80 percent to 20 percent. Our sectoral turnover exceeded 20 billion dollars, and our R&D expenditures reached 3.5 billion dollars. While our number of active projects exceeded 1400, our project portfolio exceeded 100 billion dollars. We increased our defense exports, which were only 248 million dollars in 2002, to over 10 billion dollars last year. In the first quarter of 2026, our defense and aerospace exports reached 1 billion 910 million dollars, an increase of 12.1 percent compared to the same period last year. We will reach the 11 billion dollar export volume that we have set as our 2028 target, and we will be among the top 10 in the world in defense exports. After the wars around us are over, we will achieve a boom in every field, especially in the defense industry. Despite the efforts to hinder Türkiye, we will achieve this ‘great breakthrough’ together.

❱ AN IMPORTANT THRESHOLD: Today, we are leaving behind another very important threshold on the path to a fully independent Türkiye in defense. With these investments, which will make our defense industry a stronger development axis and increase the rate of qualified employment, we will strengthen our Layered Air Defense System, increase our strategic power, and strengthen our cruise and ballistic missile capabilities. We will make significant contributions to our smart ammunition family, mass production speed and R&D capacity.

❱ Striking POWER OF THE STEEL DOME: Our air defense architecture will be further strengthened as these systems, which constitute the striking power of the Steel Dome, reach a higher production rate. With this new infrastructure established for our critical air defense systems, strategic missile projects and smart ammunition capabilities, we will increase the deterrence of our heroic army to much higher levels.

❱ ‘THE FISH ARE AFRAID’ THEY SAID: Erdoğan said, “While we were conducting missile tests in Sinop, the leader of the main opposition party said, ‘Fish are frightened by the sound of missiles and leave their nests.’ His predecessor, whom this person sent off with crocodile tears, said, ‘What is the need for these? Who will attack us?’ he said. If we had listened to these, we would not be even close to where we are today in the defense industry.

3 BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT
Erdoğan said, “The main goal of the coming period in the defense industry is to produce high-tech products faster, more effectively and in higher quantities. With these facilities and systems, whose completed investment cost is 1 billion dollars and the total investment scale reaches 3 billion dollars, we will reach the range faster and accelerate the determined steps we have taken.”

WE TRUST THE POWER OF OUR WRIST
President Erdoğan said, “We are rightfully proud of being at a prominent level in the defense industry. Today, we feel safe while missiles and drones are flying around us. Today, if anything happens to us, we do not rely on anyone else, but first of all, the strength of our own hands. Not only we, but also our competitors and adversaries know these very well. We have never easily reached the proud levels in the defense industry, the importance of which is better understood these days; we were tested, stalled, left in the middle, blocked, threatened. “We were subjected to restrictions that we did not deserve, but we did not submit to any of them,” he said.

LOW AND TIMED PROVOCATION
Referring to the terrorist attack that took place yesterday at noon in Istanbul Levent, President Erdoğan said, “I want it to be known that we condemn the treacherous attack, which was foiled by the successful intervention of our heroic security forces. In the heinous terrorist attack, 3 terrorists were neutralized, one dead and two injured. Our two heroic police officers were slightly injured during the intervention. Both our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and our police and intelligence units quickly launched the necessary investigations regarding the attack. May God grant a speedy recovery to our injured police officers.” “I wish the Istanbul Police and the people of Istanbul to get well soon. We will continue our fight against all forms of terrorism with determination, and we will not allow Türkiye’s climate of trust to be damaged by vile and timely provocations like today.”

MEETS WITH SPANISH PRIME MINISTER SANCHEZ
PRESIDENT Erdoğan had a telephone conversation with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional and global issues. President Erdoğan stated that the solidarity shown by Türkiye and Spain in every field, especially in defense, was welcomed by our people and that they aim to take our relations even further.

Within the scope of the project, the launch of the “My City, My School” project and the protocol signing ceremony were held at Gaziantep Kamil Ocak Indoor Sports Hall. The new structure, which transforms the entire city into a learning area, has been officially put into practice. The choice of the city as a pilot province was influenced by the fact that Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality put forward a structure compatible with the approach of the Ministry of National Education towards education.

Minister of National Education Prof. Dr. Yusuf Tekin explained the details of the project in his speech at the launch and protocol signing ceremony of the “My City, My School” project. Tekin stated that they are acting with the aim of developing a local and original model in education and said, “We trust the teachers, students and academic knowledge in Türkiye. The learning process starts from the environment in which the student lives. When our children start their education life, they must first get to know the house, family, neighborhood and district they live in.” Minister Tekin said, “We want our children to start learning by getting to know the mosques, museums and historical places where they are. Many points in Türkiye have been transferred to the digital environment. We have made it accessible online.”

Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin stated that the Turkey Century Education Model has started a new journey in education and said, “With the Turkey Century Education Model, we have been presented with an approach that teaches us the journey of human development. In this journey, we act with the understanding of science, wisdom, sound mind, good heart and good taste. Education is not limited to the school only. All the opportunities of the city need to be included in the education process. At this point, Gaziantep has a strong infrastructure.” “We mobilize all the opportunities of our city in the fields of art, science, culture, sports, nature and environment for the development of our children,” he said. Following the speeches, the protocol for the My City, My School Project was signed by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin, General Director of Secondary Education Halil İbrahim Topçu and General Director of Basic Education Ebubekir Sıddık Savaşçı on behalf of the Ministry of National Education.

DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN DEFENSE HAS DECREASED TO 20 PERCENT

President Erdoğan reminded that they reduced the foreign dependency rate in defense from 80 percent to 20 percent.

Stating that the sectoral turnover exceeded 20 billion dollars, R&D expenditures reached 3.5 billion dollars, the number of active projects exceeded 1400 and the project portfolio exceeded 100 billion, Erdoğan said:

“We increased our defense exports, which were only 248 million dollars in 2002, to over 10 billion dollars last year. In the first quarter of 2026, our defense and aerospace exports reached 1 billion 910 million dollars, an increase of 12.1 percent compared to the same period last year. We will reach the 11 billion dollar export volume that we set as our 2028 target, and hopefully we will be among the top 10 in the world in defense exports. After the wars in our immediate surroundings end, we will reach the 1 billion 910 million dollars. “We will make a great leap forward in every field, especially in the defense industry. I hope we will achieve this great breakthrough together, despite the efforts to hinder Türkiye in advance.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements at the ROKETSAN Production Facilities Opening, Mass Production Deliveries and Groundbreaking Ceremony.

Highlights from Erdoğan’s speech:

“I DAMN THE TRICKY ATTACK”

First of all, I want it to be known that we condemn the treacherous attack that took place in Beşiktaş, Istanbul at noon today and was thwarted by the successful intervention of our heroic security forces. In the heinous terrorist act, 3 terrorists, one dead and 2 injured, were neutralized, and 2 of our heroic police officers were slightly injured during the intervention. Both our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and our police and intelligence units quickly launched the necessary investigations regarding the attack. I wish a speedy recovery to our injured police officers, and I wish the police and people of Istanbul to get well soon. We will continue our fight against all forms of terrorism with determination, and we will not allow Türkiye’s climate of trust to be damaged by vile and timely provocations like today.

I am very pleased to be with you on this meaningful ceremony. I hereby send my greetings and love to every member of our Roketsan family, which adds new achievements every day with the projects, products and systems developed by our Turkish Armed Forces, which wrote epic stories on land, at sea and in the air, and to more than 4,500 companies operating in the defense industry.

First of all, I want to express this truth with all my heart. We are a nation that lives with its martyrs and believes that its martyrs are also alive. For exactly a thousand years; I commemorate with utmost respect all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives so that the call to prayer for Muhammad would sound in the skies, so that homes and homes would not fade away, so that our flag would fly with glory and pride, so that our homeland would be eternal, our state would be eternal, and our nation would be free. On behalf of myself and my nation, I would like to express my gratitude to all our veterans who fought heroically for the future of our country and nation.

I would like to wholeheartedly thank all our engineers, software developers, technicians, workers, managers and academicians who work tirelessly in the defense industry, putting not only their hands but also their body under responsibility when necessary and carrying the industry to this day.

I also congratulate our Presidency of Defense Industries, which ensures that these studies are carried out in harmony with its holistic management capacity, and I wish them continued success. May God Almighty be pleased with you. I hope that the effort you put forth and the effort you put in for Türkiye’s strong, effective, respected and bright future will be beneficial for all of us.

Today, we are leaving behind another very important threshold on the path to a fully independent Türkiye in defense. Soon, hopefully, we will open our Kırıkkale fuel production facilities, Lalahan warhead facility, and Advanced Technologies R&D and Engineering Center. In addition, we will deliver many weapon groups such as our Tayfun, Siper, Atmaca, Hisar-A, Hisar-O and Sungur systems, Çakır, SOM, MAM-T and MAM-L, the sharp claws of our SIHAs, to our heroic army. We will also lay the foundations of our Lalahan Missile Integration Facilities.

With these investments, which will make our defense industry a stronger development axis and increase the rate of qualified employment, we will strengthen our layered air defense system, increase our strategic power, reinforce our cruise and ballistic missile capabilities, and make significant contributions to our smart ammunition family, mass production speed and R&D capacity. We will further strengthen our air defense architecture as these systems, which constitute the striking power of the steel dome, reach a higher production rate.

With this new infrastructure established for our critical air defense systems, strategic missile projects and smart ammunition capabilities, we will increase the deterrence of our heroic army to much higher levels. I would like to particularly underline this. The main goal of the coming period in the defense industry is to produce high-tech products faster, more effectively and in higher quantities. The investments we have launched today constitute a very critical stage on the way to the goal we have set.

I SEND MY THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO OUR ROKETSAN FAMILY

With these facilities and systems, the completed investment cost of which has reached 1 billion dollars and the total investment scale of which has reached 3 billion dollars, we will reach the target faster and accelerate the determined steps we have taken. Once again, I wish you good luck. I would like to wholeheartedly congratulate all my brothers who have stepped up to this point, from the design stage to the mass production process of these products that draw a new horizon for the industry, and I would like to express my gratitude once again to our Roketsan family.

We are living in a period where digitalization and artificial intelligence-based algorithms are reshaping the concept of defense. As technology advances, the nature of the products and software needed in the field changes day by day. We witness this very closely, especially in the recent war, conflict and crisis environments that have broken out in our immediate surroundings.

Now you know best that even milliseconds make a big difference in the diagnosis, detection, decision-making, intervention and destruction processes. We are in an age where air, land and sea domination are intertwined, unmanned technologies and positioning in cyberspace change all balances. At this point, I would like to express this with great pride. We are one of the founding actors of this new order in which rules and processes are reshaped. We are not worried about keeping up with this new system, where cyber warfare has replaced trench warfare. Because we, as a country, now determine the direction and course both in the field and in technology.

We have become one of the countries that set the norm in this field with the products, systems, software and platforms we have developed in the last 23 years, our strong human resources and corporate capacity. Thank God, today Türkiye is a country that protects its own skies, equips its own platforms and develops its own ammunition. Moreover, we can do all this with our own intelligence, engineering and human resources. We come to the aid of our friends and allies upon their request and contribute to global peace and security at the highest level.

Look, I have to remind you and my citizens who watch us on their screens of a fact here. Yes, today we are proud to be at a world-renowned level in the field of defense industry. Today, while missiles and drones are flying around us, we feel safe and can lay our heads on the pillow at night with peace of mind. Today, God forbid, if something happens to us, we trust first of all our own strength, not anyone else. Not only we but also our competitors and adversaries know these very well.

But it is also a fact that we have never easily reached proud levels in the defense industry, the importance of which is better understood these days. We were tested, we were stalled, we were abandoned, we were hindered, we were threatened. We were exposed to restrictions we did not deserve. But we did not bow to any of them. Thank God, we have reached these days with the prayers and support of our dear nation, the efforts of you, our brothers and sisters who shed their wisdom and sweat in the defense industry, the coordination of our institutions and the strong will of our state.

Of course, while doing these, we also witnessed tragicomic scenes. Remember, while we were conducting missile tests in Sinop, the leader of the main opposition party was saying ‘fish are frightened by the sound of missiles and leave their nests’. While we were trying to diversify our defense tools, his predecessor, whom this person bid farewell to with crocodile tears, was saying, ‘What is the need for these, who will attack us?’ at a time when our region was turning into a fire scene. We have encountered many sabotage attempts that do not fit into reason, conscience and morality, from those who said they would touch the defense industry when they came to power, to those who exploited the tank pallet factory. Dear brothers and sisters, if we had listened to these, we would not have been even close to where we are today in the defense industry.

“Hopefully WE WILL BE IN THE TOP 10 IN THE WORLD IN DEFENSE EXPORTS”

But our aim is to see Turkish youth gain wings. I have sacrificed all my personal wealth for this cause. We followed the path of the late Nuri Demirağ, who said, “If necessary, I am ready to sell even the shirt I have on my back for this purpose.”

We claimed the legacy of our late brother Özdemir Bayraktar, who dedicated his life to the great and powerful Türkiye, by saying ‘we did our duty from the situation’, despite the countless obstacles we encountered. We shouldered the legacy of Sultan Fatih, whose hawkish cannons changed the concept of war of the period and opened and closed an era. And as a result, we managed to crown the troubles, difficulties and sufferings of Vecihi Hürkuş, Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha and Piri Reis with today’s successes and turn them into a statement of pride.

I would like to draw your and my beloved nation’s attention to the following figures: We reduced our foreign dependency in defense from 80 percent to 20 percent. Our sectoral turnover exceeded 20 billion dollars, and our R&D expenditures reached 3.5 billion dollars. While our number of active projects exceeded 1400, our project portfolio exceeded 100 billion. We increased our defense exports, which were only 248 million dollars in 2002, to over 10 billion dollars last year. In the first quarter of 2026, our defense and aerospace exports reached 1 billion 910 million dollars, an increase of 12.1 percent compared to the same period last year. We will reach the 11 billion dollar export volume that we have set as our 2028 target, and hopefully we will be among the top 10 in the world in defense exports.

After the wars in our immediate vicinity end, we, as a nation, will achieve great growth in every field, especially in the defense industry. Despite the efforts to hinder Türkiye already, I hope we will achieve this great breakthrough together. Dear guests, our Roketsan, one of our institutions that represents Türkiye’s engineering claim, strategic mind and high technology vision, fulfills a very important mission in this blessed march. Roketsan, which exports the products it has developed to more than 50 countries today, makes significant contributions to the technology-oriented development of our country. Our Roketsan family continues to strengthen the high-tech character of our defense industry with more than 7 thousand employees, hundreds of projects carried out and deep engineering experience, 4 R&D centers with more than 3 thousand personnel, national patent performance and trained human resources.

I find it especially useful to express this. As Türkiye, we continue our work with determination towards our goal of independent access to space. We are taking strong steps forward in a wide range of fields, from rocket technologies to satellite launch capabilities. Hopefully, Roketsan’s work will increase our strength in the realization of this vision that brings defense and space together on the same horizon. On behalf of myself and my nation, I would like to thank all members of our Roketsan family for their critical contributions to the industry. I would like to express my gratitude to all components of this great ecosystem, from our SMEs to our subcontractors, from our engineers to our workers.

I pray that God will help us. With these thoughts in mind, I hope that the facilities we have opened, the systems we have delivered and the new investments we have laid the foundations of will once again be beneficial for our country, our nation and our security forces. I wholeheartedly congratulate our Ministry of National Defense, Presidency of Defense Industries, Roketsan, all our institutions and private sector stakeholders who contributed to these projects. Once again, I greet you with respect and love, and I entrust you all to God. Thank you, live long, stay healthy.

In the investigation carried out by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the expenses made through ALDAŞ Infrastructure Management and Consultancy Trade Inc., Antalya 3rd Criminal Judgeship of Peace took the statement of the suspect Muhittin Böcek in prison via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

The judge decided to arrest Böcek on charges of “embezzlement” and “turning a blind eye to the commission of embezzlement crimes”.

PUBLIC DAMAGE HAS BEEN DETECTED

On January 14, proceedings were initiated against 22 suspects, including the detainee Muhittin Böcek, who was suspended from his duty as the Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, regarding the allegations that “approximately 399 million 507 thousand lira of public damage was caused through irregular expenditures through ALDAŞ Infrastructure Management and Consultancy Trade Inc.” affiliated to Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, and 14 people were detained.

It was reported that 4 of the suspects were invited to take their statements, 2 of them were abroad and 1 of them was not detained because he had a recent surgery.

5 of the 14 suspects taken into custody were arrested.

The trial of 41 defendants, including detained Muhittin Böcek, continues at the Antalya 6th High Criminal Court for crimes such as “extortion by force”, “unfair acquisition of property”, “influence trading” and “laundering of assets resulting from crime”.