Turkey to start manufacturing helicopters within next 5 years

ANKARA (A.A) - November 4, 2011 - Turkish national defense minister said that Turkey would start to manufacture its domestic helicopters within next five years. Minister Ismet Yilmaz submitted his ministry's budget for 2012 to the parliamentary planning and budget commission. Yilmaz said that Turkey would also begin to design and develop warplanes and training aircraft.  Turkey would also design air defense systems and begin production within next five years, he added. Defense Minister Yilmaz said that tenders on landmine sweeping along the border between Turkey and Syria would be held in 2012, stating that they aimed to clear the border territories off the mines by the end of 2016.