Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi stated during the delivery ceremony at Turkish Aerospace Industries that Türkiye has now reached a position where it is helping shape the defense industry rather than merely following it. Speaking as one AKSUNGUR unmanned aerial vehicle, one T-129 ATAK attack helicopter, and one T-70 utility helicopter were added to the inventory of the General Directorate of Security’s Aviation Department, Çiftçi said the event was not only a handover of new aircraft, but also a clear expression of Türkiye’s determination to remain independent in the skies.

Çiftçi emphasized that Türkiye has moved beyond being a country dependent on foreign suppliers for defense needs and has become one capable of developing its own UAVs, helicopters, and next-generation aviation platforms. He underlined the major role played by Turkish Aerospace Industries in that transformation and said today’s achievements are the result of many years of sacrifice, patience, engineering effort, and strategic determination. According to him, the defense industry is not merely an economic or technical field, but one of the main guarantees of national independence, sovereignty, and future security.

Recalling that the police aviation branch has been carrying out critical missions since 1981, Çiftçi said it has played an essential role in disaster response, firefighting, internal security operations, and crisis situations. He noted that the organization has accumulated more than 249,000 flight hours and described police aviation as one of the quiet but highly effective pillars of Türkiye’s security structure. With the newly delivered platforms, he said, this capability has now been strengthened even further. He also stated that the Turkish Police has become the first police force to operate both attack helicopters and advanced UAV capability, calling this a clear sign of how far Türkiye’s security vision has advanced.

The minister also stressed that the AKSUNGUR, ATAK, and T-70 are not simply technical assets, but symbols of national self-confidence, state will, and engineering capability translated into operational power. He argued that every platform produced by TUSAŞ serves not only current security needs, but also Türkiye’s future defense architecture. Repeating the idea that a country which cannot dominate the skies cannot truly shape events on the ground, Çiftçi said Türkiye is moving forward with the goal of full control in the “sky homeland.” He added that every step taken in defense production also carries significance for oppressed nations looking to Türkiye with hope.

Following the ceremony, Çiftçi carried out his first flight aboard the newly delivered T-70 utility helicopter, accompanied by two ATAK helicopters. He said the new platforms would allow the police and gendarmerie to fight crime and security threats more effectively, and described the latest deliveries as another milestone in Türkiye’s broader defense and security modernization path.