The State Department on Thursday approved a $70 million sale of defense equipment to Turkey, according to the Pentagon. The sale of guidance kits - technically called Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM - converts unguided bombs into all-weather "smart" munitions and uses a GPS system to find targets if bombs are unguided. "Turkey is a partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in the region. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our NATO ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives," the Pentagon said in a statement. The sale is expected to enhance Turkey's air defense capabilities and aims to contribute to future NATO operations, the Pentagon said, and added that the proposed sale, which needs congressional approval, will not alter the basic military balance in the region. Pending approval by lawmakers, the two countries will be allowed to refine terms of the deal. The State Department's announcement comes months after Turkey allowed the strategic İncirlik Air Base to be used by the U.S.-led coalition for airstrikes against the ISIS terror organization.In addition to this, Turkey has been giving more and more importance to its domestic weapons industry in recent years. In December 2014, the Turkish defense industry consolidated its position among the world's giant arms manufacturers. Despite an average decline of 4.5 percent in sales by the world's top 100 defense companies, Aselsan, Turkish defense systems producer, which previously ranked 87th, now ranks 65th with an increase of 29 percent in sales.While Aselsan was out-selling big companies such as Mitsubishi, Kawasaki and Samsung, it was also consolidating its position in the top 100 defense companies. Aselsan, which is one of the largest 100 companies on the list of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), has risen from 87th to 65th place, becoming the fourth fastest-growing company on the list. In 2013, Aselsan's turnover surged from $860 million to $1.1 billion. In this year's study, SIPRI opened a separate category for developing countries, as these countries, including Turkey, Brazil, South Korea and Singapore, produced more weapons than in previous years. The report suggests that "Aselsan has experienced a rapid rise despite entering the list in 2010." In previous years, only American, European and Russian companies dominated the global market. Even though the U.S. has the largest share today, an upsurge is being seen in the shares of developing countries. The U.S. and other NATO members account for two-thirds of sales revenues of defense equipment and weapons. The share of these countries in global arms purchases is 84 percent. There are 38 American companies among the world's largest 100 arms manufactures, of which sales revenues declined by 4.5 percent in 2013.Moreover, in the beginning of this year, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu commented on Turkey's planned long-range missile system project, which are part of the rapid development of the Turkish Defense Industry. Davutoğlu said that the Turkish Long-Range Missile Defense System Project is one of the defense industry's biggest projects in which Chinese, American and Italian-French companies are seeking participation. Negotiations have currently been in the hands of the Undersecretariat of Defense Industry (SSM).In August 2014, the SSM announced the project, T-LORAMIDS, for the country's air and missile defense program. This has continued as of Dec. 31, 2014 by the ministry to negotiate further with a number of companies.Work is to start on the preliminary design stage for Turkey's next generation air-to-air combat fighter, which is called the TFX, a fifth-generation jet fighter. In 2010, the Defense Industry Executive Committee started the TFX project to replace Turkey's F-16 and to design, develop and manufacture a fleet that would work together with the stealth F-35."This national fighting aircraft development project is Turkey making its own combat aircraft. We had previously agreed on the principles for the project. Now it has been decided to move to the preliminary design stage and the latest pre-design phase will be completed in four years," Davutoğlu said, "Our goal is to build the first TFX prototype aircraft in 2023 and we will prepare the way for this project. Today, we have launched the preliminary design stage."The country, which has been a partner in the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter program from the concept development phase, has contributed to system development and demonstration and production and follow-on development phases.About the infantry weapons, Davutoğlu said that the government has decided to start mass production of the modern infantry rifle MPT-76 for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). "We are planning to produce 35,000 rifles in the first stage. We assessed the necessary requirements for this and we decided on serial production."The 7.62 mm chambered rifle is intended to become the new standard infantry weapon for the TSK. Davutoğlu also said that Turkey will buy five additional Boeing CH-47F Chinook twin-engine, tandem rotor, heavy-lift helicopters.Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, said in September of last year that it had chosen the FD-2000 missile defense system from China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corp for a $3.4 billion project with high technology transfer-over systems from the Italian-French and American companies.Communication technology of the highest level will be used for the TSK, Davutoğlu said. "The defense industry is one of the most important sectors for the protection of the independence, freedom and the survival of a country," he added.