ANKARA (Agencies): Turkey’s president said Saturday Turkey is among the 10countries that can design, build, and maintain its own warship, and thecountry’s navy will be in a “very strong position” with five major projectsin the coming five years.

Speaking at a launch ceremony for Istanbul (F-515) frigate, as well as awelding ceremony of the third ship under Pakistan MILGEM Corvette Projectin Istanbul, Erdogan said that having military, economic, and diplomaticstrength is an obligation, not a choice for Turkey.

“Turkey becomes a country that meets needs of friendly and allied countriesas well as itself in terms of land and sea vehicles,” Erdogan said.

Ankara can overcome challenges and embargoes posed by global suppliersthrough its own strength, he noted.

Turkey, boasting significant skills in submarine technology, will put intoservice six of its new submarines starting in 2022 with Piri Reis, addedErdogan.

On the country’s prog-ress on UAVs, Erdogan stressed that Turkey is nowalso among the first three to four countries globally in terms ofproduction of unmanned and armed unmanned aerial vehicles.

“Turkey will take Gokdeniz, the naval version of Korkut low-altitude airdefense system, into the inventory for the first time with Istanbulfrigate,” he said.

An aircraft carrier to be designed indigenously, following Anadolu Ship,will take Turkey to the top league in the field, Erdogan added.