Turkey's first warship built by a local shipyard, a corvette, entered Turkish Navy service Sept. 27, and a second corvette of the same class was put to sea during a televised ceremony in Istanbul.
The moves come amid rising tensions with former ally Israel in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, General Staff chief Gen. Necdet Ozel and other dignitaries attended the ceremony at the Turkish Navy's Pendik shipyard.
"National defense can only be possible through national industry," Erdogan said. "We are proud to have these ships today."
Defense News
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