Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir confirmed that the "Akinci" drone successfully executed an important operation in locating the downed helicopter of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and his companions. In remarks to the Turkish Anadolu Agency during his participation in the "Sarajevo Business Forum," Kacir stated, "At the request of the Iranian authorities to locate the helicopter, an attack drone and Bayraktar Akinci, which are part of the Turkish Armed Forces, were deployed to the area. Within a short time, approximately an hour and a half, the location of the helicopter was determined in a highly challenging and rugged geographical area under poor and foggy weather conditions."
He added, "We addressed the needs of our friend and neighbor Iran from the same civilizational perspective, and with the approach of sharing the capabilities we possess with our friends and brothers. Nearly 5 million people watched this event live that night, as Turkish official media covered the operation step by step for the whole world."
Kacir further claimed, "We believe technology is valuable as long as it is used for the benefit of humanity, and our leap in defense industries is part of this civilizational perspective. Turkey is now a leading country in Europe in both industry and technology."
He continued, "Turkish drones protect the skies of about 40 countries worldwide, and the local production rate in Turkey's defense industries has increased from 20% to 80%. This was achieved through 3,500 companies and nearly 80,000 qualified employees."
He noted that "the world closely followed the achievements that Turkey made in defense industries, as Turkey became capable of meeting its needs through its domestic and national products in the defense sector. Turkish planes have faced defamation campaigns at times, and the best response to these campaigns is the successful operations carried out by our national technological products."
Kacir also stated: "Turkey is ready to share its expertise with countries in the Balkans, as it is considered the largest manufacturing power in Europe, ranging from commercial vehicles to flat glass, from solar panels to the production of iron, steel, cement, and home appliances. There are about 10,500 Turkish companies engaged in innovation, research, and development across 102 technology parks in Turkey."
These Turkish statements follow the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff's denial yesterday of reports regarding the role of the "Akinci" aircraft in the search for Raisi's helicopter.
