President Erdogan attends Aksaz shipyard opening, naval platforms ceremony

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated in the opening of the Aksaz Shipyard Command and the delivery ceremony of naval platforms.

The event marked the commissioning of the Piri Reis submarine and the world’s largest 3,000-ton submarine dock. The Piri Reis submarine is the first submarine built under the Air Independent Propulsion Submarine Project to enter service.

In his speech, President Erdogan emphasized Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to enhance its stature. “We continue to work tirelessly to elevate the Republic of Türkiye. We are a country under the spotlight of the world. Our millennial presence on this land is owed to the blood and sacrifices of our martyrs. We are aware of the need for a strong and effective navy. Since 2002, we have been advocating ‘strong army, strong Türkiye.’ Our steps are admired by our brothers,” Erdogan said.

He highlighted the significance of the Pirireis submarine, noting, “Piri Reis is of critical importance to our military. It is equipped with superior features compared to its counterparts.”

President Erdogan also stressed that Türkiye is among the few countries capable of designing and building its own warships. “We will join the ranks of leading countries worldwide. Another point to note about Pirireis is that it will use our pride, the Akya torpedo, in addition to the Atmaca and Gezgin missiles,” he added.

He concluded by announcing the addition of a fourth shipyard: “We are continuing on our path by developing national ships with domestic and national resources.”