The Turkish navy is also to acquire six modern U-291-type (sic, probably U-214) submarines costing $3 billion, the purchase of utility and attack helicopters worth more than $7 billion.

According to Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Turkey’s 2011 budget appropriations for the ministry account for 1.4 percent of Turkey’s gross domestic product and 5.4 percent of the overall state budget.

In December 2010 the Turkish Parliament endorsed a budget of $11.3 billion for the Defense Ministry, up from the 2010 budget of $10.5 billion. According to Gonul, of the Turkish Defense Ministry’s overall budget, $2.5 billion will go to arms acquisitions, with the majority of the ministry’s budget directed toward spending on personnel, nearly $6 billion, while operations and maintenance will absorb an additional $2.62 billion.  (photo: Getty)