Turkish bureaucrat says Turkey is capable enough to produce its own aircraft carrier

ANKARA (A.A) - 07.05.2011 - Turkey's defense industry undersecretary said on Saturday that Turkey was capable enough to produce its own aircraft carrier thanks to its recent achievements in maritime industry. 
Murad Bayar said a country had to own at least two new destroyers, one submarine, one ASW, one ASuW, one conventional helicopter, four missile boats, 40 war jets that can land and take off from the aircraft carrier, and fuel tanker in order to own such a giant carrier.
"Also, the carrier should employ 1,000 to 5,000 staff according to its dimensions," Bayar told AA correspondent.
Bayar said the undersecretariat was providing 52.1 percent of Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) needs by local possibilities.
"Our turnover has reached 2.7 billion USD, exports to 853 million USD, and annual R&D expenditures to 600 million USD," Bayar said.
Bayar said today, there was a Turkish company among the to 100 defense industry companies in the world.
The undersecretary said Turkey's Gokturk 2 satellite would probably be launched in the second half of 2012. 
Bayar said the F-35 project schedule had been extended for two years, and technical and political initiatives were under way. 
The undersecretary also said the first aircraft within the framework of A400M project was planned to be delivered in September 2013.