TURKEY LAUNCHES CORVETTE PROGRAM

ANKARA [MENL] -- Turkey has launched a program for the procurement ofindigenous naval corvettes. The Turkish Defense Ministry has issued a tender for corvettes for thenavy in the most ambitious project to date for the nation's defenseindustry. Officials said the first stage of the program would cost more than$200 million and could develop the technological and production capabilitiesof Turkey's naval shipyards.