Indigenous weapons boost Turkey's anti-terror fight

ERZINCAN, Turkey Various indigenous state-of-the-art military equipment has enhanced Turkish security forces' capabilities in its fight against the PKK terror group. In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. Turkish gendarmerie commandos effectively fight the terror group despite challenging weather and terrain conditions, thanks to the latest technological weapons and military equipment. Kirpi and Vuran mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPV) safely deploy commandos to hostile areas. Thermal cameras and SARP remote-controlled weapon systems, produced by Turkish defense electronics giant ASELSAN, improve the vehicles and troops' survivability. Once they are deployed in the area, commando teams, equipped with indigenous infantry rifle MPT-76 and Bora-12 sniper rifles, use ASELSAN-made mini-drones to scan the field and to detect possible terrorist hideouts. Furthermore, recently distributed camouflage uniforms keep them warm and dry and enable them to operate even under the harshest weather conditions at high elevations.