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THE MARTIAL SPIRIT OF MUSLIMS AND THEIR ARMIES INDEED AIR FORCES NEEDS TO BE NURTURED, SUSTAINED AND CELEBRATED. STATE OF ART WEOPONRY AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS TO BE READY IN THE ARMOURY TO CONFRONT OUR AGGRESSIVE ENEMIES. THEIR SUPPRESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF MUSLIMS AND HUMANITY MUST BE CONFRONTED ON THE BATTLEFIELD. IT IS TIME THAT THE MILITARY HEGEMONY AND AGGRESSION OF THE ENEMIES OF ISLAM IS CHALLENGED AS IN THE BATTLE OF AIN JALUT WHEN THE MAMLUKS FACED AND DEFEATED THE MONGOL HORDES IN THE MEDIAEVAL ERA. AS THE AFGHAN MUJAHIDEEN HAVE SHOWN IN THEIR HEROIC NATIONAL ISLAMIC LIBERATION STRUGGLE AGAINST THE RUSSIANS, NATO/USA AND PROXIES. THIS IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR AND DICTAT OF THE QURAN AS PER SURAH HADID.
THE UMMAH NEEDS TO PAY HEED TO THIS COMMANDMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO GUARANTEE FREEDOM AND LIBERTY FOR ISLAM AND MUSLIMS TO SURVIVE AND FLOURISH AS THE UPHOLDERS OF DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY. WILL POWER, COURAGE AND SACRIFICE NEEDS TO BE CENTRAL TO THE JIHADI MENTALITY AND CHARACTER AND NEEDS TO REPLACE THE COWARDICE, DEFEATISM AND LOVE OF THE MATERIAL FOUND AMONGST MANY CONTEMPORARY MUSLIMS AND LEADERSHIP. ONLY THEN WILL VICTORY BE GUARANTEED AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF ISLAM GLOBALLY.
WE SALUTE THE PAF AND WISHES IT EVERY SUCCESS AND MULTIPLY ITS STRENGTH AND IMPACT.
PAKISTAN AIR FORCE SPECIAL SHOW
SAMAA TV | 14 September 2019
JF 17 THUNDER PAF IS READY TO PERFORM THE UNBEATABLE SKILLS
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AIK DIN GEO KE SATH - PAKISTAN ARMY MUSEUM
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TURKEY MAY CLOSE INCIRLIK AIRBASE IN FACE OF US THREATS : ERDOGAN
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara will retaliate against any American sanctions imposed.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/t...38537.html
Turkey could shut down its Incirlik airbase that hosts US nuclear warheads in response to threats of US sanctions, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned. "If it is necessary for us to take such a step, of course, we have the authority... We will close down Incirlik if necessary," Erdogan said on A Haber TV on Sunday.
US senators backed legislation last week to impose sanctions on Turkey over the purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system earlier this year and its recent military operation in northern Syria. Incirlik is a key airbase used by the Turkish Air Force located outside the city of Adana, about 150km from the Syrian border. Since November 2011, the US air force has flown drones from the base and has used it to carry out air raids against the ISIL (ISIS) armed group.
The United States stores nuclear weapons at Incirlik as part of the legacy of the Cold War.
Turkey can also close down the Kurecik radar base if necessary, he added. Kurecik, in eastern Turkey, is a key NATO base.
"If they are threatening us with the implementation of these sanctions, of course, we will be retaliating," he said.
Speaking about a separate resolution passed in the US Senate on Friday recognising the mass killings of Armenians at the end of the first world war as "genocide", Erdogan said the bill was "completely political".
He suggested Turkey may respond with parliamentary resolutions recognising the killings of Indigenous Americans in past centuries as genocide.
Turkey: S-400 system 'vital'; will retaliate to any US sanctions
The US Senate votes, which were immediately condemned by Turkey, were seen as the latest move to push US President Donald Trump to take a harder line against Ankara.
The Trump administration has so far not imposed sanctions despite the president in 2017 signing a sanctions law that mandates financial penalties for countries that do business with Russia's military. Amid already strained bilateral ties, Washington suspended Ankara from the US F-35 stealth fighter jet programme, in which it was a producer and buyer, to penalise it for buying the Russian missile system.
Speaking at a conference in Qatar on Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey would not cancel its deal with Russia over the S-400s "whatever the consequences".
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PAKISTAN IS STEPPING UP IT'S AERIAL COMBAT CAPABILITIES FOR SELF DEFENCE AGAINST INDIA. PAKISTAN'S AERIAL DEFENCES ARE BEING STRENGTHENED TO THWART ANY INDIAN HEGEMONIC MOVES. THIS IS NOT ONLY TIMELY BUT IT IS SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE INDIAN HINDUTVA NAZI REGIME THAT IT'S BELLIGERENT ACTIONS AND POLICIES WILL BE RESISTED AND NEUTRALISED.
HOWEVER, WITHOUT GOING INTO SPECIFICS HERE MODERN MUSLIM ARMIES NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT ISLAMIC MILITARY DOCTRINE DOES NOT JUST RELY UPON MILITARY MATERIAL CAPABILITIES BUT IN ALIGNMENT WITH SPIRITUAL FORCES WHICH NEED TO BE INVOKED AND HARNESSED IN BATTLE. THIS IS NOT AIRY FAIRY GOSSIP BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL AS NONMUSLIM MILITARY POWERS ARE INVOKING AND HARNESSING OCCULTIC AND SATANIC FORCES TO ASSIST THEM IN COMBAT. MORE LIGHT WILL BE SHED ON THIS LITTLE KNOWN ASPECT OF WARFARE HEREAFTER AS BATTLE LINES ARE BEING DRAWN.
PAKISTAN SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED AIR LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE “RA’AD-II
ISPR has released the footage of Air Launched Cruise Missile “Ra’ad-II as our scientists and engineers worked hard and continue enhancing our defence potential. Imran Khan and Qamar Bajwa are happy with this achievement. It has a range of 600 KM.
HISTORICAL DAY IN PAKISTAN ARMY MISSILE POWER
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NO SUPERPOWER SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPROMISE ANY MUSLIM ARMED FORCES DEFENCE CAPABILITIES. THE CRITICAL ROLE OF GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS CAN NOT BE UNDER ESTIMATED IN ANY MODERN HI-TECH WAR. PAKISTAN NEEDS TO GO FURTHER AND FASTER TO HAVE THE STRONGEST AND MOST POWERFUL MILITARY FORCE IN THE MUSLIM WORLD. THIS IS THE COMMANDMENT OF THE QURAN AND NEED OF THE TIMES AS CONFLICT BECKONS
PAKISTAN JOINED BEIDOU SATELLITE OF CHINA INSTEAD OF GPS OF US
PAKISTAN ARMY TO REPLACE AMERICAN GPS SYSTEM WITH CHINESE BEIDOU GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM
PAKISTAN OPERATIONALISED A NEW AIRBASE FOR INDIA
HOW POWERFUL IS PAKISTAN'S LATEST MISSILE TECHNOLOGY
Sheikh Usman
NEW TECHNOLOGY OF PAKISTAN 2020
CHINESE AND ISRAELI DRONES ARE COMING FACE TO FACE WITH EACH OTHER
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THE UNITED STATES OF ISLAM ARMY NEEDS TO TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THE TOPKAPI WHICH REVEALS THE ARMAMENTS OF THE PROPHET AND EARLY MUSLIMS. THE IMPLICATIONS ARE NOT JUST THAT BEING PREPARED FOR MILITARY DEFENCE IS A SACRED DUTY BUT FIGHTING JIHAD IS INCUMBENT ON MUSLIMS IN THE FACE OF ENEMY TRANSGRESSIONS. JIHAD IS PRIMARILY UNDERTAKEN TO DEFEND ISLAM AND MUSLIMS. SO IT IS INTIMATELY CONNECTED TO THE SACRIFICE OF ONE'S LIFE AND CAREER TO UPHOLD THE DIGNITY OF ISLAMIC CIVILISATION.
THE CONCEPT OF SACRIFICE WHICH IS SO EAGERLY COMMEMORATED AMONGST MUSLIMS DURING THE EID AL ADHA SHOULD NOT BE NARROWLY DEFINED AS ANIMAL SACRIFICE. SACRIFICE SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD AS A TRULY COMPREHENSIVE DAILY LIVING BELIEF AND PRACTICE IN WHICH MUSLIMS ARE READY, PREPARED AND EXECUTING TO SACRIFICE ALL IN THE CAUSE OF ISLAM.
THIS DOCTRINE SHOULD BE REVIVED IN MADRASSAHS AND MARTIAL ARTS BE INTRODUCED AS PART OF THE HOLISTIC ISLAMIC CURRICULUM. MILITARY SERVICE SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN ALL MUSLIM COUNTRIES AND DEFENCE POLICIES SHOULD ENSURE THAT MUSLIM ARMIES ARE SELF RELIANT IN THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF THE LATEST ARMS. FURTHERMORE THERE NEEDS TO BE A REVIVAL OF THE TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF SACRIFICE, STRUGGLE AND JIHAD IN ISLAM MODELLED ON THE PROPHETS IN ISLAMIC HISTORY.
TOPKAPI PALACE MUSEUM'S ISLAMIC SACRED RELICS
GRAVES OF ALL PROPHETS AND HOLY PLACES IN ISLAMIC HISTORY
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CH-4 DRONES CHINESE COPY OF MQ-9 REAPER DEPLOYED BY PAKISTAN AND CHINA
CHINA BACKS PAKISTAN AND READY TO PROVIDE ADVANCE DRONES
CHINA IS GOING TO PROVIDE DRONE CH-4 UCAV TO PAKISTAN
CHINA LAUNCHED 2 SATELLITES TO MONITOR THE CPEC AND BRI PROJECTS
TURKEY HITS A NEW MILESTONE, TESTED A LATEST CUTTING EDGE MULTIROLE ARMED DRONE
PAKISTAN ARMED FORCES GUNS REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT OF G3 AND TYPE 56 RIFLE OF PAKISTAN ARMY
PAK ARMED FORCES SNIPER GUNS 2020
SSG COMMANDO SNIPER RIFLES
5 BEST COMMANDOS OF THE PAKISTAN ARMY
SG COMMANDOS
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAKISTAN NATIONAL ANIMAL MARKHOR AND ISI SYMBOL
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LET US NOT FORGET THE MUJAHIDEEN AND SHUHADA OF TURKEY AND PAKISTAN FIGHTING SUCCESSFULLY AGAINST EUROPEAN AND INDIA ARMIES IN THE 2OTH CENTURY AND SENDING THEM BACK HOME . THE SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRUGGLES AND JIHAD WAGED BY MUSLIMS AGAINST NONMUSLIM INVASIONS AND IMPERIALISTS NEED TO BE REMEMBERED AND CELEBRATED. THESE ARE AN INSPIRATION TO CURRENT GENERATIONS SEEKING SELF DETERMINATION IN THE CONTEMPORARY TURBULENT WORLD.
TURKISH WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
PREISDENT ERDOGAN’s MESSAGE ON AUGUST 30 VICTORY DAY
https://www.tccb.gov.tr/en/speeches-stat...ictory-day
https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/english/habe...ictory-day
Following is the message President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an issued on August 30 Victory Day:
“Today, we, as the nation, together with our brothers and sisters in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, are excited to celebrate the 98th anniversary of the great victory.
I wholeheartedly congratulate our citizens in our country and in every part of the world on the August 30 Victory Day.
Our fight for independence, started under the leadership of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Samsun in 1919, ended in a decisive and lasting victory with the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief.
It was proclaimed to the entire world with the August 30 victory that these lands are our eternal homeland.
This victory is the proclamation of the re-emergence on the stage of history and the rise from its ashes of a nation sought to be buried in history.
Turkey’s struggle for independence and future continues today as well.
It is absolutely not a coincidence that those who seek to exclude us from the Eastern Mediterranean are the same invaders as the ones who attempted to invade our homeland a century ago. Just as our nation achieved victory in its fight for independence despite poverty and deprivation, it will never hesitate to thwart the desires and moves for a Sevres in Blue Homeland today as well. No one should have any doubts about our resolve in this matter and our unshakeable belief in victory. With these thoughts in my mind, I remember with respect Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic and the Commander-in-Chief of the Great Offensive, and his brother-in-arms. I wish Allah’s mercy upon all our martyrs, who sacrificed their lives to defend our country for a thousand years, and a healthy and peaceful life to our ghazis.
Happy August 30 Victory Day!”
[/url]
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORATE OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ON AUGUST 30 VICTORY DAY
https://www.diyanet.gov.tr/tr-TR/Kurumsal/Detay/29793/diyanet-isleri-baskanligindan-30-agustos-zafer-bayrami-mesaji#
In the message published by the Directorate of Religious Affairs on the occasion of the 98th anniversary of the 30th of August Victory, it was stated that "August 30 Victory is the clearest indication that we will overcome all difficulties when we are united by the nation and we struggle with consciousness, determination, patience and determination".
We are experiencing the honor and excitement of realizing the 98th anniversary of the August 30 Victory, where our beloved nation wrote one of the greatest heroic epics in history with a glorious struggle for the sake of faith, homeland, values and freedom with great courage, nobility and justice.
The Victory of August 30 is a resurrection decree that declares to the whole world that our noble nation will never be captured, that our glorious flag decorating the skies will never be lowered, and that the sounds of adhan that ringing the sky will never be relieved.
August 30 Victory; It is a unique epic in which those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of religion, faith, nation, homeland and sacredness, with the aim of establishing justice, peace and peace in the world by embracing sound faith, righteous deeds and good morals, become immortal on the stage of history. This clearly shows that in this noble struggle and resistance that has left its mark on our history, the greatest support and strength of our nation has been its unwavering faith in Allah, its high character that never accepts slavery, its belief that it is the greatest honor to fight for the sake of sacred and values.
The 30th of August Victory, which is a symbol of great faith, determination, sacrifice, hope and resurrection, of course imposes very important duties and responsibilities on us today. Therefore, to read in detail what happened a century ago in this geography, why the struggle for independence was made and how victory was achieved, to understand and grasp the high belief, surrender, consciousness, meaning and spirit behind the victory, to tell our generations by keeping alive the values we fought for the sake of the national struggle. is one of our most important tasks.
In this context, it is the biggest responsibility of us living in this paradise country to the past, present and tomorrow, to consolidate the feelings of unity and solidarity, to unite around our common values, to have a consciousness that protects and sustain these values, to work for the peace and welfare of our nation and state. As a matter of fact, the Victory of August 30 is the clearest indication that we will overcome all difficulties when we are united as the nation and when we struggle with consciousness, determination, patience and determination.
On this occasion; We remember with gratitude and gratitude all the heroes of the struggle for independence, especially the founder of our Republic, the Commander-in-Chief Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. We wish Allah's mercy on all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our religion, homeland, nation, adhan and flag, our independence and our future, and our veterans who died in the hereafter.
With these feelings and thoughts, we congratulate our beloved nation on the 30th of August Victory Day, and we ask our Almighty Lord to allow us to live freely and in brotherhood forever in this beautiful land.
6th SEPTEMBER PAKISTAN DEFENCE DAY - WE WILL RISE
FUTURE OF PAKISTAN PREDICTED
Dr Israr Ahmed
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LET US NOT FORGET THE MUJAHIDEEN AND SHUHADA OF TURKEY AND PAKISTAN FIGHTING SUCCESSFULLY AGAINST EUROPEAN AND INDIA ARMIES IN THE 2OTH CENTURY AND SENDING THEM BACK HOME . THE SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRUGGLES AND JIHAD WAGED BY MUSLIMS AGAINST NONMUSLIM INVASIONS AND IMPERIALISTS NEED TO BE REMEMBERED AND CELEBRATED. THESE ARE AN INSPIRATION TO CURRENT GENERATIONS SEEKING SELF DETERMINATION IN THE CONTEMPORARY TURBULENT AND UNJUST OPPRESSIVE WORLD.
TURKISH WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
TURKISH OLD GALLIPOLI FOLK SONG ÇANAKKALE TURKUSU
MEHTER DUNYANIN EN ESKI ASKERI BANDOSU
PREISDENT ERDOGAN’s MESSAGE ON AUGUST 30 VICTORY DAY
https://www.tccb.gov.tr/en/speeches-statements/558/121952/message-on-august-30-victory-day
https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/english/habe...ictory-day
Following is the message President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an issued on August 30 Victory Day:
“Today, we, as the nation, together with our brothers and sisters in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, are excited to celebrate the 98th anniversary of the great victory.
I wholeheartedly congratulate our citizens in our country and in every part of the world on the August 30 Victory Day.
Our fight for independence, started under the leadership of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Samsun in 1919, ended in a decisive and lasting victory with the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief.
It was proclaimed to the entire world with the August 30 victory that these lands are our eternal homeland.
This victory is the proclamation of the re-emergence on the stage of history and the rise from its ashes of a nation sought to be buried in history.
Turkey’s struggle for independence and future continues today as well.
It is absolutely not a coincidence that those who seek to exclude us from the Eastern Mediterranean are the same invaders as the ones who attempted to invade our homeland a century ago. Just as our nation achieved victory in its fight for independence despite poverty and deprivation, it will never hesitate to thwart the desires and moves for a Sevres in Blue Homeland today as well. No one should have any doubts about our resolve in this matter and our unshakeable belief in victory. With these thoughts in my mind, I remember with respect Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic and the Commander-in-Chief of the Great Offensive, and his brother-in-arms. I wish Allah’s mercy upon all our martyrs, who sacrificed their lives to defend our country for a thousand years, and a healthy and peaceful life to our ghazis.
Happy August 30 Victory Day!”
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORATE OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ON AUGUST 30 VICTORY DAY
https://www.diyanet.gov.tr/tr-TR/Kurumsal/Detay/29793/diyanet-isleri-baskanligindan-30-agustos-zafer-bayrami-mesaji#
In the message published by the Directorate of Religious Affairs on the occasion of the 98th anniversary of the 30th of August Victory, it was stated that "August 30 Victory is the clearest indication that we will overcome all difficulties when we are united by the nation and we struggle with consciousness, determination, patience and determination".
We are experiencing the honor and excitement of realizing the 98th anniversary of the August 30 Victory, where our beloved nation wrote one of the greatest heroic epics in history with a glorious struggle for the sake of faith, homeland, values and freedom with great courage, nobility and justice.
The Victory of August 30 is a resurrection decree that declares to the whole world that our noble nation will never be captured, that our glorious flag decorating the skies will never be lowered, and that the sounds of adhan that ringing the sky will never be relieved.
August 30 Victory; It is a unique epic in which those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of religion, faith, nation, homeland and sacredness, with the aim of establishing justice, peace and peace in the world by embracing sound faith, righteous deeds and good morals, become immortal on the stage of history. This clearly shows that in this noble struggle and resistance that has left its mark on our history, the greatest support and strength of our nation has been its unwavering faith in Allah, its high character that never accepts slavery, its belief that it is the greatest honor to fight for the sake of sacred and values.
The 30th of August Victory, which is a symbol of great faith, determination, sacrifice, hope and resurrection, of course imposes very important duties and responsibilities on us today. Therefore, to read in detail what happened a century ago in this geography, why the struggle for independence was made and how victory was achieved, to understand and grasp the high belief, surrender, consciousness, meaning and spirit behind the victory, to tell our generations by keeping alive the values we fought for the sake of the national struggle. is one of our most important tasks.
In this context, it is the biggest responsibility of us living in this paradise country to the past, present and tomorrow, to consolidate the feelings of unity and solidarity, to unite around our common values, to have a consciousness that protects and sustain these values, to work for the peace and welfare of our nation and state. As a matter of fact, the Victory of August 30 is the clearest indication that we will overcome all difficulties when we are united as the nation and when we struggle with consciousness, determination, patience and determination.
On this occasion; We remember with gratitude and gratitude all the heroes of the struggle for independence, especially the founder of our Republic, the Commander-in-Chief Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. We wish Allah's mercy on all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our religion, homeland, nation, adhan and flag, our independence and our future, and our veterans who died in the hereafter.
With these feelings and thoughts, we congratulate our beloved nation on the 30th of August Victory Day, and we ask our Almighty Lord to allow us to live freely and in brotherhood forever in this beautiful land.
6th SEPTEMBER PAKISTAN DEFENCE DAY - WE WILL RISE
FUTURE OF PAKISTAN PREDICTED
Dr Israr Ahmed
PAKISTAN AIR FORCE DAY SPECIAL
PAKISTAN AIR FORCE -PRESENT AND FUTURE COMPARISON BETWEEN PAF & IAF-JF 17 BLOCK 3-PAKISTANI F 16-2025
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THE TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY IS SHIFTING GEAR AND HAS MADE GAME CHANGING MOVES IN IT'S HI-TECH MILITARY HARDWARE. THIS WILL BE REVIEWED IN DEPTH AS TURKEY WILL BE A CRITICAL PART OF THE UNITED STATES OF ISLAM ARMY
TURKEY REPORTEDLY TESTS ITS S-400 AIR MISSILE DEFENCE SYSTEM
WHY TURKEY's S-400 MATTERS
STRAIT TALK: RUSSIA’s SALE OF S-400 TO TURKEY IS MAKING THE US UNCOMFORTABLE. WHY?
TURKEY's DRONES : A GAME CHANGER
DECODED: TURKEY`s DRONE POWER
DEMAND OF NEW TURKISH DRONES SOARED ALL OVER THE WORLD IN FEW WEEKS
SON IN LAW OF ERDOGAN MADE BRILLIANT UAV DRONES EXPORTING WORLDWIDE
TURKEY WILL PROVIDE BAYRAKTAR TB-2 DRONES TO PAKISTAN AGAINST INDIA
TURKEY'S EXPANDING DEFENCE INDUSTRY
THE RISE OF TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY.
WHAT LIES BEHIND THE TURKISH DEFENSE INDUSTRY's SUCCESS STORY?
TURKEY ARMED FORCES
HOW TURKEY BECAME A STRONG NAVAL POWER IN RECENT YEARS
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/how-tu...ears-32670
Turkey made a big investment in improving its naval defences in the last decade, increasing the number of warships and military vessels and relying on homegrown technology. Turkey, a country between Europe and Asia, bordering three seas on its northern, western and southern flanks, has made a lot of efforts in recent years to advance its Navy to a level where it could compete with world powers.
In recent years, Ankara has not only increased its number of vessels and warships, protecting its coasts and sailing in international waters, but also made self-sufficiency a priority to upgrade its naval force, relying on its own native sources to decrease dependency on outside powers.
“Although lawmakers have long nurtured a desire to make Turkey less dependent upon foreign weaponry and technology, [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s government has dramatically increased defence spending and has worked diligently to promote state cooperation with native defence contractors,” wrote Ryan Gingeras, a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, and an expert on Turkish, Balkan, and Middle East history.
Since 2007, Turkey’s spending on research and development has significantly increased, tripling its previous levels, according to a survey conducted by a leading defence industry group. Last year, it passed $1.2 billion, the survey showed. The Turkish Navy has had 112 military vessels until now, but Ankara plans to add a total of 24 new ships, which include four frigates, before the Republic reaches the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2023.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, bottom centre, accompanied my officials pose for photographs during the launch of a new Turkish Navy ship, in Tuzla, outside Istanbul on July 3, 2017. (Credit: Turkish Presidency Press Service / AP Archive)
Turkey’s star: TCG Anadolu
Among them, TCG Anadolu occupies a special place because the warship is Turkey’s first light aircraft carrier, enabling the country to join the club of aircraft carriers. But Anadolu, which is scheduled to join the Turkish Navy’s active operations this year, means more than that for Turkey.
Anadolu is “the largest Turkish warship since TCG Yavuz, a former German battlecruiser transferred in dramatic fashion in 1914,” wrote Richard Parley, an American military writer and lecturer, in February.
“Anadolu will offer the Turkish Navy unprecedented amphibious assault capability in the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean,” Parley estimated.
Turkish officials visit to see the construction of TCG Anadolu, Turkey's first aircraft carrier built by a native company, in Istanbul's Tuzla port in November 2019. (AA)
The warship, which is being built by a joint consortium including Spanish firm Navantia and a native company, Sedef Shipbuilding Inc, in Turkey, shows the country’s ambition to be a dominant force in the Mediterranean Sea like the Ottoman Empire, the country’s predecessor state, had been in the 16th Century.
“History shows us that the country that possesses naval power is always destined to be supreme. And the country that does not have naval power is weakened. We needed this power yesterday and we need it today, and we will need it tomorrow," said Hulusi Akar, Turkey’s defence minister, in September during the landing ceremony of TCG Kinaliada, which is produced under the country’s national programme.
In undated picture, Turkey's TCG Kinaliada, which is built under the country's national programme, sails in Turkish waters. (AA)
At its full capacity, Anadolu will be able to displace 27,000 tons, with a length of 231 metres with a width of 32 metres, and can also reach speeds of 21 knots, which nearly equals to 39 kilometres per hour. The formidable warship can also carry four mechanised, two air-cushioned and two military personnel landing vehicles along with helicopters and drones.
“Turkey’s plans to build and deploy the carrier Anadolu is but one indication of Ankara’s overall push to develop and expand its national defence industry,” Gingeras noted.
Why Turkey invests much in naval forces
Turkey wants to compete with its Mediterranean neighbours on equal terms to claim its marine rights in the region by improving its naval capabilities, which are also crucial to secure the country’s vital economic interests.
“With more than 87 percent of the country’s trade conducted via maritime ports of entry, and a number of transnational pipelines passing through Turkish territorial waters, the country’s naval capabilities have come to figure more prominently in contemporary Turkish thinking,”
Gingeras wrote.
Turkey's 230-meter (750-foot) drillship 'Yavuz' escorted by a Turkish Navy vessel, crosses the Marmara Sea on its way to the Mediterranean, from the port of Dilovasi, outside Istanbul on June 20, 2019. (Lefteris Pitarakis / AP Archive)
As a result, Turkey has recently bought two exploration ships, Fatih and Yavuz, to compete with regional rivals and enhance its offshore technology in the field of gas and other marine exploration efforts in East Mediterranean, where rich gas reserves have been recently discovered.
“A desire to stake a claim to natural gas deposits off the coast of Cyprus has especially stirred the attention of policymakers in Ankara. The commencement of Turkish drilling operations, as well as rumoured plans for the building of a new Turkish naval base in northern Cyprus, are among the most recent signs that planners intend to project greater influence over the eastern Mediterranean,” Gingeras viewed.
Ankara recently signed a critical maritime agreement with Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National accord (GNA), signalling Mediterranean powers that without Turkey’s participation or approval, no gas routes could be truly secured.
In addition to its economic interests, Turkey also seeks to have a powerful naval presence in its three seas, which it calls as “Blue Homeland”, to ensure its national security. A Turkish assault boat is pictured during Turkey's Blue Homeland exercises in March 2019. (AA)
In March, Ankara showed the world its sincerity about building a powerful native naval force, conducting the country’s biggest maritime exercises simultaneously with more than 100 military vessels in its three seas. The exercises are also named after “Blue Homeland”. Beyond the Mediterranean and its other national waters, Turkey has also expanded its naval presence by deploying its forces to faraway countries, from Somalia to Sudan and Qatar, accessing areas from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and the Gulf.
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