Rear Admiral Aktürk spoke at the weekly press briefing held in Kayseri on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate.
Emphasizing that the 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate was established in 1926 as Türkiye's first aircraft factory and that it has an important place in the development of the Turkish aviation industry with its deep-rooted history of nearly a century, Aktürk said, "Our 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate, which has made significant contributions to the development of the operational capability of our Air Forces and to keeping the mission readiness level of our aircraft high since its establishment, has been producing especially A400M, C-130 and CN-235 military transport aircraft." "It successfully carries out factory level maintenance, repair, modernization and modification activities of different types of aircraft, including our aircraft, KC-135R tanker aircraft and SF-260D and T-41D training aircraft, as well as aircraft fire extinguishing, aircraft trailers, bomb loading vehicles, aircraft arresting systems, anti-aircraft guns and fuel supply tankers." he said.
Aktürk said that in addition to the maintenance and sustainment capabilities of the 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate, it also produced the first national aircraft tow vehicle "Rahvan" and the bomb loading vehicle "Seyit Onbaşı", developed with domestic and national resources, and that it served as the only "Parachute Production Center" in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces and the highest capacity manufacturing center of the Air Forces Command.
Stating that the factory is a century-old representative of the understanding expressed in Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's saying "Every factory is a castle", Aktürk stated that it combines the knowledge and experience inherited from the past with the technologies of the future.
Aktürk emphasized that the Turkish Armed Forces' efforts to strengthen its modern and effective defense force and the domestic and national defense industry with advanced technology products continue with determination and said:
"On September 28, the acceptance activity of our New Generation Basic Training Aircraft HÜRKUŞ-II was held at TUSAŞ's Kahramankazan facilities with the participation of our Air Forces Commander and Deputy Minister Mr. Salih Ayhan, and again last week, the inspection and acceptance activity of various Wheeled Weapon Carrier Vehicles was completed by our Land Forces Command. 81 millimeter mortar ammunition and 155 mm mortar ammunition and 155 mm mortar ammunition were delivered to our Land Forces Command by MKE. millimeter concrete-piercing artillery fuze and Azak warhead were delivered to our defense industry stakeholders. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed between MKE's company in Azerbaijan, Makine Kimya Azerbaijan (MKA) and the Azerbaijani company Miras for the modernization of BMP-1 armored combat vehicles and joint defense industry projects; the first modernized BMP-1T 'Turan' is ADEX. It was introduced to the public for the first time in 2026."
fight against terrorism
Pointing out that the Turkish Armed Forces continues its activities with determination and determination against all kinds of risks and threats in order to ensure the security of Türkiye, protect the peace of the nation and preserve the survival of the state, Aktürk gave the following information:
"In this context, 1 more PKK terrorist surrendered in the last week. At our borders, where security is established at the highest level on a 24/7 basis, 712 people trying to cross illegally, including 1 member of a terrorist organization, were caught. The number of people caught trying to cross our borders illegally from January 1 to today is 12 thousand 706. Along with the 1149 people blocked, the number of people blocked at our borders this year is also "It reached 52 thousand 487. Additionally, approximately 413 kilograms of drugs were seized during the search and scanning activity on the Van border line this week."
Aktürk said that the Turkish Armed Forces continues to make significant contributions to regional and global security, peace and stability within the framework of bilateral relations with the responsibilities it assumes on international platforms.
Referring to the Turkey-Greece Confidence Building Measures Implementation Plan, Aktürk stated that the National Defense University (MSÜ) will visit the Greek National Defense College in Athens between 7-9 October.
Israel
Rear Admiral Aktürk emphasized that Israel rejects the raids carried out by Israeli extremist groups on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, within the scope of developments in the Middle East, and stated that violations and provocations targeting holy places further fuel tension in the region and undermine peace and stability efforts.
Expressing that Israel, which caused the deaths of 74 thousand Palestinians, including innocent babies, children and women, and the deprivation of the rest of their human rights to life, continues its attacks and settler occupations in the West Bank in the most severe form, Aktürk said, "We emphasize once again the importance of international consciences needing to take action to end what is happening in Palestine, and we reiterate our call for the international community to take deterrent measures in the face of Israel's attacks that violate international and humanitarian law." he said.
Training and exercises
Aktürk emphasized that the Turkish Armed Forces continues its training and exercise activities uninterruptedly.
Rear Admiral Aktürk used the following statements.
"Between 3-16 October, Martyr Aircraft Maintenance Petty Officer Staff Sergeant Hamdi Armağan Kaplan Yıldırım Mobilization, Nusret-2026 in Izmir Bay, and Martyr Captain Cengiz Topel Mediterranean Storm exercises will be held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In addition, between 8-15 October, in order to demonstrate the high firepower and deterrence achieved by our heroic army and to improve our personnel's reaction and fire capabilities towards targets. "Free Fire Activity will be held in Polatlı between 2-25 October. On the other hand, participants will participate in Valiant Strike and Carpathian Arc Collective Defense exercises in Romania, Black Swan Special Force in Hungary, Mare Aperto Amphibious Operation in Italy, Steadfast Duel Regional Plans Testing in Italy and Norway, and Multinational Mine Warfare Exercise in the Republic of Korea."
Aktürk, who informed that MSU Naval Petty Officer Vocational School students will make a port visit to Egypt between 2-4 October and Çanakkale between 6-8 October, within the scope of "Open Sea Training", continued as follows:
"French Naval Forces element Surcouf will go to Marmaris between 2-7 October, Spanish Naval Forces element Turia, Italian Navy element Numana and German Naval Forces element Fulda will be sent to Izmir between 3-5 and 6-8 October within the scope of Nusret-2026 Exercise, and Mine Countermeasures will be carried out in the Western Black Sea between 7-18 October. "As part of the 12th Activation Activity of the Black Sea Task Group, port visits will be made by TCG Akçay to Varna/Bulgaria on October 7. Our TCG Akçakoca mine hunting ship will participate in the NATO Standing Mine Countermeasures Task Group-2 (SNMCMG-2) between 2-24 October."
Aktürk informed that within the scope of the "Turkish Armed Forces and Aviation Promotion Activities", demonstration flights will be held in Malatya by Turkish Stars on October 2, and in Diyarbakır by SOLOTÜRK on October 3.
Stating that personnel and military student recruitment activities continue as planned, Aktürk said, "The applications for 'Turkish Armed Forces 2026 Law Class Active Officer Candidate Recruitment', which started on September 7, will end on October 7, and the preliminary application process for the employment of contracted sergeants and privates in public institutions and organizations who have completed seven years of service in the Turkish Armed Forces will be carried out via e-Government between September 22 and October 12." he said.
