Turkey launches $5.9 bln defense project: PM

Turkey launches $ 5.9 bln defense project: PM

In addition, prototype of Turkey's new national infantry rifles was presented to Davutoglu.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Wednesday that a new defense industry project worth $5.9 billion had been approved, following a Defense Industry Executive Committee meeting in Ankara.

"We will focus on domestic production [in defense industry] " Davutoglu stressed at a press conference in Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries

Pointing to improvements in Turkey's national defense industry, Davutoglu added: "We have given approval to a new defense industry project worth a total of $5.9 billion."

"$4.5 billion will involve domestic production," he said.

Davutoglu was also presented with the prototype of the national infantry rifles, which he said would be mass produced, starting this year.