ISTANBUL, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's first home-made submarine was taken into pool to continue its construction in the northwestern province of Kocaeli with a ceremony on Sunday.
The building of TCG Piri Reis started four years ago under the new-type submarine project of the Turkish Naval Forces with a view to increasing the capabilities of the Turkish defense industry.
Defense Turkey, an online news portal supported by Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries, said the submarine will be capable of "generating power through the fuel cell system as a result of hydrogen and oxygen tanks' reaction."
"Therefore, it will be able to remain underwater for 14 days without atmospheric air," it noted.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a total of six submarines shall be built under the project and all will be operational by 2027, with Piri Reis in service as of 2022.
Erdogan also noted that Greece and its partner countries have been trying to block Turkey's sea access, but his country would continue to protect its rights in the eastern Mediterranean Sea through the maritime deal signed with Libya.
"If necessary, we might raise the level of our military support to Libya," he said.
Erdogan had earlier voiced Turkey's readiness to send troops to Libya if the internationally-recognized government would make such a request.
