Erdogan Threatens Greeks

Speaking about the global crises, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that his country has not only faced challenging times but is also progressing, as it seeks to increase the range of its domestic-produced missiles from 565 km to 1000 km, Anadolu reports.

During his visit to the southwestern province of Muğla, Erdogan announced that production of the domestic defense industry has increased from 20% to 80% since he came to power in the early 2000s.

“National issues are above politics and should remain so. If we have made progress in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Seas, we must protect it together without exception,” he said.

Highlighting that Turkey now produces its own drones and combat UAVs, Erdogan indicated that the “Bayraktar Kizilelma” air combat vehicle “will carry a bomb launched by an F-16 in the case of mass production.”

Erdogan believes that the Greeks are saying, “What are those crazy Turks doing?” He stated that the tests of Turkish-made missiles are ongoing, adding that such testing has “scared” Greece, emphasizing that the tests are conducted from the coastal city of Izmir near the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea.

“Tests are being conducted from Izmir, and the missile launched from there begins to frighten them,” the Turkish president said.

“I say, ‘Hey Greeks, we have no business with you as long as you behave well. Just be good,’” he concluded, adding that Turkey's defense industry is strengthening and “terrorist groups are being crushed.”

In December, the Turkish defense company “Baykar” conducted the first flight of the “Bayraktar Kizilelma” or “Red Apple.” It has low radar visibility and will be able to perform the most difficult tasks. It can also fly with a payload of up to 1500 kilograms, equipped with Turkish-made munitions, and ensure high situational awareness thanks to the Active Electron Scanning Array (AESA) radar, which has also been developed in Turkey.